diff --git a/modules/mqnic/mqnic.h b/modules/mqnic/mqnic.h
index 0077e8d35..65074c8a2 100644
--- a/modules/mqnic/mqnic.h
+++ b/modules/mqnic/mqnic.h
@@ -448,6 +448,9 @@ struct mqnic_priv {
 	u32 sched_block_count;
 	struct mqnic_sched_block *sched_block[MQNIC_MAX_PORTS];
 
+	u32 port_count;
+	struct mqnic_port *port[MQNIC_MAX_PORTS];
+
 	u32 max_desc_block_size;
 
 	u32 rx_queue_map_indir_table_size;
diff --git a/modules/mqnic/mqnic_netdev.c b/modules/mqnic/mqnic_netdev.c
index 80d83ad56..7177203a1 100644
--- a/modules/mqnic/mqnic_netdev.c
+++ b/modules/mqnic/mqnic_netdev.c
@@ -489,21 +489,20 @@ static const struct net_device_ops mqnic_netdev_ops = {
 static void mqnic_link_status_timeout(struct timer_list *timer)
 {
 	struct mqnic_priv *priv = from_timer(priv, timer, link_status_timer);
-	struct mqnic_if *interface = priv->interface;
 	int k;
 	unsigned int up;
 
-	// "combine" all TX/RX status signals of all ports of this interface
-	for (k = 0, up = 0; k < interface->port_count; k++) {
-		if (!(mqnic_port_get_tx_status(interface->port[k]) & 0x1))
+	// "combine" all TX/RX status signals of all ports of this netdev
+	for (k = 0, up = 0; k < priv->port_count; k++) {
+		if (!(mqnic_port_get_tx_status(priv->port[k]) & 0x1))
 			continue;
-		if (!(mqnic_port_get_rx_status(interface->port[k]) & 0x1))
+		if (!(mqnic_port_get_rx_status(priv->port[k]) & 0x1))
 			continue;
 
 		up++;
 	}
 
-	if (up < interface->port_count) {
+	if (up < priv->port_count) {
 		// report carrier off, as soon as a one port's TX/RX status is deasserted
 		if (priv->link_status) {
 			netif_carrier_off(priv->ndev);
@@ -574,6 +573,10 @@ struct net_device *mqnic_create_netdev(struct mqnic_if *interface, int index, in
 	for (k = 0; k < interface->sched_block_count; k++)
 		priv->sched_block[k] = interface->sched_block[k];
 
+	priv->port_count = interface->port_count;
+	for (k = 0; k < interface->port_count; k++)
+		priv->port[k] = interface->port[k];
+
 	netif_set_real_num_tx_queues(ndev, priv->txq_count);
 	netif_set_real_num_rx_queues(ndev, priv->rxq_count);