diff --git a/net/8021q/vlan.c b/net/8021q/vlan.c
index f2531ad66b68..8d213f974448 100644
--- a/net/8021q/vlan.c
+++ b/net/8021q/vlan.c
@@ -277,7 +277,8 @@ static int register_vlan_device(struct net_device *real_dev, u16 vlan_id)
 	return 0;
 
 out_free_newdev:
-	free_netdev(new_dev);
+	if (new_dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
+		free_netdev(new_dev);
 	return err;
 }