diff --git a/drivers/net/net_failover.c b/drivers/net/net_failover.c
index 3f7d31033bae..1b5213e87070 100644
--- a/drivers/net/net_failover.c
+++ b/drivers/net/net_failover.c
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ static int net_failover_slave_name_change(struct net_device *slave_dev,
 	/* We need to bring up the slave after the rename by udev in case
 	 * open failed with EBUSY when it was registered.
 	 */
-	dev_open(slave_dev, NULL);
+	netif_open(slave_dev, NULL);
 
 	return 0;
 }