diff --git a/net/sched/sch_generic.c b/net/sched/sch_generic.c
index 93cd30ce6501..cdcd16fcfeda 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_generic.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_generic.c
@@ -270,6 +270,8 @@ static void dev_watchdog_down(struct net_device *dev)
 void netif_carrier_on(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	if (test_and_clear_bit(__LINK_STATE_NOCARRIER, &dev->state)) {
+		if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
+			return;
 		linkwatch_fire_event(dev);
 		if (netif_running(dev))
 			__netdev_watchdog_up(dev);
@@ -285,8 +287,11 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(netif_carrier_on);
  */
 void netif_carrier_off(struct net_device *dev)
 {
-	if (!test_and_set_bit(__LINK_STATE_NOCARRIER, &dev->state))
+	if (!test_and_set_bit(__LINK_STATE_NOCARRIER, &dev->state)) {
+		if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
+			return;
 		linkwatch_fire_event(dev);
+	}
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(netif_carrier_off);