diff --git a/drivers/net/veth.c b/drivers/net/veth.c
index 3eca92d3dc60..a61842b2585b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/veth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/veth.c
@@ -1377,9 +1377,10 @@ static int veth_set_channels(struct net_device *dev,
 		 * to identify the range we have to disable
 		 */
 		veth_disable_range_safe(dev, new_rx_count, old_rx_count);
-		netif_carrier_on(dev);
-		if (peer)
+		if (peer && (peer->flags & IFF_UP)) {
+			netif_carrier_on(dev);
 			netif_carrier_on(peer);
+		}
 	}
 
 	/* update XDP supported features */