diff --git a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_netlink.c b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_netlink.c
index b43b51646b11..f0f9138e967f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_netlink.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_netlink.c
@@ -456,11 +456,10 @@ static int bond_newlink(struct net *src_net, struct net_device *bond_dev,
 		return err;
 
 	err = register_netdevice(bond_dev);
-
-	netif_carrier_off(bond_dev);
 	if (!err) {
 		struct bonding *bond = netdev_priv(bond_dev);
 
+		netif_carrier_off(bond_dev);
 		bond_work_init_all(bond);
 	}