diff --git a/src/devices/nm-device-ethernet.c b/src/devices/nm-device-ethernet.c
index da366c93f6..7e84b49025 100644
--- a/src/devices/nm-device-ethernet.c
+++ b/src/devices/nm-device-ethernet.c
@@ -259,18 +259,6 @@ _update_s390_subchannels (NMDeviceEthernet *self)
 	_notify (self, PROP_S390_SUBCHANNELS);
 }
 
-static void
-constructed (GObject *object)
-{
-	const NMPlatformLink *pllink;
-
-	G_OBJECT_CLASS (nm_device_ethernet_parent_class)->constructed (object);
-
-	pllink = nm_platform_link_get (NM_PLATFORM_GET, nm_device_get_ifindex ((NMDevice *) object));
-	if (pllink && pllink->initialized)
-		_update_s390_subchannels ((NMDeviceEthernet *) object);
-}
-
 static void
 clear_secrets_tries (NMDevice *device)
 {
@@ -1679,13 +1667,23 @@ carrier_changed (NMDevice *device, gboolean carrier)
 }
 
 static void
-link_changed (NMDevice *device, const NMPlatformLink *pllink)
+link_changed (NMDevice *device,
+              const NMPlatformLink *pllink)
 {
 	NM_DEVICE_CLASS (nm_device_ethernet_parent_class)->link_changed (device, pllink);
 	if (pllink->initialized)
 		_update_s390_subchannels ((NMDeviceEthernet *) device);
 }
 
+static void
+realize_start_notify (NMDevice *device,
+                      const NMPlatformLink *pllink)
+{
+	NM_DEVICE_CLASS (nm_device_ethernet_parent_class)->realize_start_notify (device, pllink);
+	if (pllink->initialized)
+		_update_s390_subchannels ((NMDeviceEthernet *) device);
+}
+
 static gboolean
 is_available (NMDevice *device, NMDeviceCheckDevAvailableFlags flags)
 {
@@ -1772,7 +1770,6 @@ nm_device_ethernet_class_init (NMDeviceEthernetClass *klass)
 
 	NM_DEVICE_CLASS_DECLARE_TYPES (klass, NM_SETTING_WIRED_SETTING_NAME, NM_LINK_TYPE_ETHERNET)
 
-	object_class->constructed = constructed;
 	object_class->dispose = dispose;
 	object_class->finalize = finalize;
 	object_class->get_property = get_property;
@@ -1792,6 +1789,7 @@ nm_device_ethernet_class_init (NMDeviceEthernetClass *klass)
 	parent_class->update_connection = update_connection;
 	parent_class->carrier_changed = carrier_changed;
 	parent_class->link_changed = link_changed;
+	parent_class->realize_start_notify = realize_start_notify;
 	parent_class->is_available = is_available;
 
 	parent_class->state_changed = device_state_changed;