diff --git a/drivers/net/loopback.c b/drivers/net/loopback.c
index 24487ec17f8b..a1c77cc00416 100644
--- a/drivers/net/loopback.c
+++ b/drivers/net/loopback.c
@@ -219,12 +219,6 @@ static __net_init int loopback_net_init(struct net *net)
 
 	BUG_ON(dev->ifindex != LOOPBACK_IFINDEX);
 	net->loopback_dev = dev;
-
-	/* bring loopback device UP */
-	rtnl_lock();
-	dev_open(dev, NULL);
-	rtnl_unlock();
-
 	return 0;
 
 out_free_netdev: