diff --git a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c
index c0d85d66f0..76a30fda4c 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c
+++ b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c
@@ -901,6 +901,9 @@ rte_eth_dev_configure(uint8_t port_id, uint16_t nb_rx_q, uint16_t nb_tx_q,
 		return -EBUSY;
 	}
 
+	/* Copy the dev_conf parameter into the dev structure */
+	memcpy(&dev->data->dev_conf, dev_conf, sizeof(dev->data->dev_conf));
+
 	/*
 	 * Check that the numbers of RX and TX queues are not greater
 	 * than the maximum number of RX and TX queues supported by the
@@ -925,9 +928,6 @@ rte_eth_dev_configure(uint8_t port_id, uint16_t nb_rx_q, uint16_t nb_tx_q,
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	/* Copy the dev_conf parameter into the dev structure */
-	memcpy(&dev->data->dev_conf, dev_conf, sizeof(dev->data->dev_conf));
-
 	/*
 	 * If link state interrupt is enabled, check that the
 	 * device supports it.