diff --git a/sys/dev/ata/ata-pci.c b/sys/dev/ata/ata-pci.c
index b79a04368ab0..217e35f16c73 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ata/ata-pci.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ata/ata-pci.c
@@ -509,10 +509,11 @@ ata_pcisub_probe(device_t dev)
     if ((error = ctlr->allocate(dev, ch)))
 	return error;
 
+    if (ctlr->chip)
+	ch->chiptype = ctlr->chip->chipid;
     ch->device[MASTER].setmode = ctlr->setmode;
     ch->device[SLAVE].setmode = ctlr->setmode;
     ch->locking = ctlr->locking;
-    ch->chiptype = ctlr->chip->chipid;
     return ata_probe(dev);
 }