diff --git a/net/core/rtnetlink.c b/net/core/rtnetlink.c
index 9aedc15736ad..85a4b0101f76 100644
--- a/net/core/rtnetlink.c
+++ b/net/core/rtnetlink.c
@@ -3343,7 +3343,8 @@ replay:
 		 */
 		if (err < 0) {
 			/* If device is not registered at all, free it now */
-			if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
+			if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED ||
+			    dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNREGISTERED)
 				free_netdev(dev);
 			goto out;
 		}