diff --git a/net/dsa/slave.c b/net/dsa/slave.c
index 1e3b6a6..732369c 100644
--- a/net/dsa/slave.c
+++ b/net/dsa/slave.c
@@ -1248,6 +1248,9 @@
 {
 	struct dsa_port *dp = dsa_slave_to_port(slave_dev);
 
+	if (!netif_running(slave_dev))
+		return 0;
+
 	netif_device_detach(slave_dev);
 
 	rtnl_lock();
@@ -1261,6 +1264,9 @@
 {
 	struct dsa_port *dp = dsa_slave_to_port(slave_dev);
 
+	if (!netif_running(slave_dev))
+		return 0;
+
 	netif_device_attach(slave_dev);
 
 	rtnl_lock();