diff --git a/src/hal/drivers/mesa-hostmot2/hm2_eth.c b/src/hal/drivers/mesa-hostmot2/hm2_eth.c
index f88bd20..dd64330 100644
--- a/src/hal/drivers/mesa-hostmot2/hm2_eth.c
+++ b/src/hal/drivers/mesa-hostmot2/hm2_eth.c
@@ -259,9 +259,9 @@ static void hm2_eth_probe() {
     board->llio.write = hm2_eth_write;
     board->llio.queue_read = hm2_eth_enqueue_read;

-    num_boards++;

     r = hm2_register(&board->llio, config[num_boards]);
+    num_boards++;
     if (r != 0) {
         rtapi_print("board fails HM2 registration\n");
         return;