diff --git a/include/net/tipc/tipc_bearer.h b/include/net/tipc/tipc_bearer.h
index 098607cd4b78..e07136d74c2f 100644
--- a/include/net/tipc/tipc_bearer.h
+++ b/include/net/tipc/tipc_bearer.h
@@ -49,10 +49,18 @@
 
 #define TIPC_MEDIA_TYPE_ETH	1
 
+/* 
+ * Destination address structure used by TIPC bearers when sending messages
+ * 
+ * IMPORTANT: The fields of this structure MUST be stored using the specified
+ * byte order indicated below, as the structure is exchanged between nodes
+ * as part of a link setup process.
+ */
+
 struct tipc_media_addr {
-	__u32  type;
+	__u32  type;			/* bearer type (network byte order) */
 	union {
-		__u8   eth_addr[6];	/* Ethernet bearer */ 
+		__u8   eth_addr[6];	/* 48 bit Ethernet addr (byte array) */ 
 #if 0
 		/* Prototypes for other possible bearer types */
 
diff --git a/net/tipc/eth_media.c b/net/tipc/eth_media.c
index b64661904e0d..3ecb1006a42d 100644
--- a/net/tipc/eth_media.c
+++ b/net/tipc/eth_media.c
@@ -254,7 +254,9 @@ int tipc_eth_media_start(void)
 	if (eth_started)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	memset(&bcast_addr, 0xff, sizeof(bcast_addr));
+	bcast_addr.type = htonl(TIPC_MEDIA_TYPE_ETH);
+	memset(&bcast_addr.dev_addr, 0xff, ETH_ALEN);
+
 	memset(eth_bearers, 0, sizeof(eth_bearers));
 
 	res = tipc_register_media(TIPC_MEDIA_TYPE_ETH, "eth",