diff --git a/net/core/gro_cells.c b/net/core/gro_cells.c
index acf45ddbe924..e095fb871d91 100644
--- a/net/core/gro_cells.c
+++ b/net/core/gro_cells.c
@@ -13,22 +13,36 @@ int gro_cells_receive(struct gro_cells *gcells, struct sk_buff *skb)
 {
 	struct net_device *dev = skb->dev;
 	struct gro_cell *cell;
+	int res;
 
-	if (!gcells->cells || skb_cloned(skb) || netif_elide_gro(dev))
-		return netif_rx(skb);
+	rcu_read_lock();
+	if (unlikely(!(dev->flags & IFF_UP)))
+		goto drop;
+
+	if (!gcells->cells || skb_cloned(skb) || netif_elide_gro(dev)) {
+		res = netif_rx(skb);
+		goto unlock;
+	}
 
 	cell = this_cpu_ptr(gcells->cells);
 
 	if (skb_queue_len(&cell->napi_skbs) > netdev_max_backlog) {
+drop:
 		atomic_long_inc(&dev->rx_dropped);
 		kfree_skb(skb);
-		return NET_RX_DROP;
+		res = NET_RX_DROP;
+		goto unlock;
 	}
 
 	__skb_queue_tail(&cell->napi_skbs, skb);
 	if (skb_queue_len(&cell->napi_skbs) == 1)
 		napi_schedule(&cell->napi);
-	return NET_RX_SUCCESS;
+
+	res = NET_RX_SUCCESS;
+
+unlock:
+	rcu_read_unlock();
+	return res;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(gro_cells_receive);