diff --git a/common/autoboot.c b/common/autoboot.c
index 49bc024602..21acfcf639 100644
--- a/common/autoboot.c
+++ b/common/autoboot.c
@@ -270,12 +270,6 @@ static int abortboot_normal(int bootdelay)
 #ifdef CONFIG_SILENT_CONSOLE
 	if (abort)
 		gd->flags &= ~GD_FLG_SILENT;
-#endif
-#ifdef CONFIG_IPQ_ETH_INIT_DEFER
-	if (abort) {
-		puts("\nNet:   ");
-		eth_initialize();
-	}
 #endif
 	return abort;
 }
@@ -382,4 +376,9 @@ void autoboot_command(const char *s)
 			run_command_list(s, -1, 0);
 	}
 #endif /* CONFIG_MENUKEY */
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_IPQ_ETH_INIT_DEFER
+	puts("\nNet:   ");
+	eth_initialize();
+#endif
 }