diff --git a/drivers/net/Kconfig b/drivers/net/Kconfig
index 56213a8a1ec5..c8b4eea14374 100644
--- a/drivers/net/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/net/Kconfig
@@ -606,4 +606,11 @@ config NET_FAILOVER
 	  a VM with direct attached VF by failing over to the paravirtual
 	  datapath when the VF is unplugged.
 
+config NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT
+	bool
+	depends on ISA
+	help
+	  Drivers that call netdev_boot_setup_check() should select this
+	  symbol, everything else no longer needs it.
+
 endif # NETDEVICES
diff --git a/drivers/net/Makefile b/drivers/net/Makefile
index a48a664605a3..6701211118c5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/Makefile
+++ b/drivers/net/Makefile
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ obj-$(CONFIG_MACVLAN) += macvlan.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_MACVTAP) += macvtap.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_MII) += mii.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_MDIO) += mdio.o
-obj-$(CONFIG_NET) += Space.o loopback.o
+obj-$(CONFIG_NET) += loopback.o
+obj-$(CONFIG_NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT) += Space.o
 obj-$(CONFIG_NETCONSOLE) += netconsole.o
 obj-y += phy/
 obj-y += mdio/
diff --git a/drivers/net/appletalk/Kconfig b/drivers/net/appletalk/Kconfig
index 43918398f0d3..90b9f1d6eda9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/appletalk/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/net/appletalk/Kconfig
@@ -52,7 +52,9 @@ config LTPC
 
 config COPS
 	tristate "COPS LocalTalk PC support"
-	depends on DEV_APPLETALK && (ISA || EISA)
+	depends on DEV_APPLETALK && ISA
+	depends on NETDEVICES
+	select NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT
 	help
 	  This allows you to use COPS AppleTalk cards to connect to LocalTalk
 	  networks. You also need version 1.3.3 or later of the netatalk
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/3com/Kconfig b/drivers/net/ethernet/3com/Kconfig
index a52a3740f0c9..706bd59bf645 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/3com/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/3com/Kconfig
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ config EL3
 config 3C515
 	tristate "3c515 ISA \"Fast EtherLink\""
 	depends on ISA && ISA_DMA_API && !PPC32
+	select NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT
 	help
 	  If you have a 3Com ISA EtherLink XL "Corkscrew" 3c515 Fast Ethernet
 	  network card, say Y here.
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/Kconfig b/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/Kconfig
index 9f4b302fd2ce..a4130e643342 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/Kconfig
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ config MCF8390
 config NE2000
 	tristate "NE2000/NE1000 support"
 	depends on (ISA || (Q40 && m) || MACH_TX49XX || ATARI_ETHERNEC)
+	select NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT if ISA
 	select CRC32
 	help
 	  If you have a network (Ethernet) card of this type, say Y here.
@@ -169,6 +170,7 @@ config STNIC
 config ULTRA
 	tristate "SMC Ultra support"
 	depends on ISA
+	select NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT
 	select CRC32
 	help
 	  If you have a network (Ethernet) card of this type, say Y here.
@@ -186,6 +188,7 @@ config ULTRA
 config WD80x3
 	tristate "WD80*3 support"
 	depends on ISA
+	select NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT
 	select CRC32
 	help
 	  If you have a network (Ethernet) card of this type, say Y here.
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/ne.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/ne.c
index e9756d0ea5b8..d0bbe2180b9e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/ne.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/8390/ne.c
@@ -951,6 +951,7 @@ static int __init ne_init(void)
 }
 module_init(ne_init);
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT
 struct net_device * __init ne_probe(int unit)
 {
 	int this_dev;
@@ -991,6 +992,7 @@ struct net_device * __init ne_probe(int unit)
 
 	return ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
 }
+#endif
 #endif /* MODULE */
 
 static void __exit ne_exit(void)
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/Kconfig b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/Kconfig
index d0b0609bbe23..c6a3abec86f5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/amd/Kconfig
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ config AMD8111_ETH
 config LANCE
 	tristate "AMD LANCE and PCnet (AT1500 and NE2100) support"
 	depends on ISA && ISA_DMA_API && !ARM && !PPC32
+	select NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT
 	help
 	  If you have a network (Ethernet) card of this type, say Y here.
 	  Some LinkSys cards are of this type.
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ config PCMCIA_NMCLAN
 config NI65
 	tristate "NI6510 support"
 	depends on ISA && ISA_DMA_API && !ARM && !PPC32
+	select NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT
 	help
 	  If you have a network (Ethernet) card of this type, say Y here.
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cirrus/Kconfig b/drivers/net/ethernet/cirrus/Kconfig
index 7141340a8b0e..dac1764ba740 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cirrus/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cirrus/Kconfig
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ config CS89x0_ISA
 	depends on ISA
 	depends on !PPC32
 	depends on CS89x0_PLATFORM=n
+	select NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT
 	select CS89x0
 	help
 	  Support for CS89x0 chipset based Ethernet cards. If you have a
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/Kconfig b/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/Kconfig
index c52a38df0e0d..72e42a868346 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/smsc/Kconfig
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ config SMC9194
 	tristate "SMC 9194 support"
 	depends on ISA
 	select CRC32
+	select NETDEV_LEGACY_INIT
 	help
 	  This is support for the SMC9xxx based Ethernet cards. Choose this
 	  option if you have a DELL laptop with the docking station, or
