diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
index 0f85e540001ff..f4df9ab0aed5f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_main.c
@@ -2530,12 +2530,6 @@ static int stmmac_hw_setup(struct net_device *dev, bool init_ptp)
 			netdev_warn(priv->dev, "PTP init failed\n");
 	}
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS
-	ret = stmmac_init_fs(dev);
-	if (ret < 0)
-		netdev_warn(priv->dev, "%s: failed debugFS registration\n",
-			    __func__);
-#endif
 	priv->tx_lpi_timer = STMMAC_DEFAULT_TWT_LS;
 
 	if ((priv->use_riwt) && (priv->hw->dma->rx_watchdog)) {
@@ -2729,10 +2723,6 @@ static int stmmac_release(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	netif_carrier_off(dev);
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS
-	stmmac_exit_fs(dev);
-#endif
-
 	stmmac_release_ptp(priv);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -3839,6 +3829,9 @@ static int stmmac_sysfs_ring_read(struct seq_file *seq, void *v)
 	u32 tx_count = priv->plat->tx_queues_to_use;
 	u32 queue;
 
+	if ((dev->flags & IFF_UP) == 0)
+		return 0;
+
 	for (queue = 0; queue < rx_count; queue++) {
 		struct stmmac_rx_queue *rx_q = &priv->rx_queue[queue];
 
@@ -4310,6 +4303,13 @@ int stmmac_dvr_probe(struct device *device,
 		goto error_netdev_register;
 	}
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS
+	ret = stmmac_init_fs(ndev);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		netdev_warn(priv->dev, "%s: failed debugFS registration\n",
+			    __func__);
+#endif
+
 	return ret;
 
 error_netdev_register:
@@ -4343,6 +4343,9 @@ int stmmac_dvr_remove(struct device *dev)
 
 	netdev_info(priv->dev, "%s: removing driver", __func__);
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS
+	stmmac_exit_fs(ndev);
+#endif
 	stmmac_stop_all_dma(priv);
 
 	priv->hw->mac->set_mac(priv->ioaddr, false);