diff --git a/drivers/hv/hv_util.c b/drivers/hv/hv_util.c
index 3b9c9ef..c5be773 100644
--- a/drivers/hv/hv_util.c
+++ b/drivers/hv/hv_util.c
@@ -340,12 +340,8 @@
 
 	set_channel_read_state(dev->channel, false);
 
-	ret = vmbus_open(dev->channel, 4 * PAGE_SIZE, 4 * PAGE_SIZE, NULL, 0,
-			srv->util_cb, dev->channel);
-	if (ret)
-		goto error;
-
 	hv_set_drvdata(dev, srv);
+
 	/*
 	 * Based on the host; initialize the framework and
 	 * service version numbers we will negotiate.
@@ -365,6 +361,11 @@
 		hb_srv_version = HB_VERSION;
 	}
 
+	ret = vmbus_open(dev->channel, 4 * PAGE_SIZE, 4 * PAGE_SIZE, NULL, 0,
+			srv->util_cb, dev->channel);
+	if (ret)
+		goto error;
+
 	return 0;
 
 error: