diff --git a/net/sched/sch_generic.c b/net/sched/sch_generic.c
index a93321db8fd7..05c250c483f0 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_generic.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_generic.c
@@ -609,6 +609,9 @@ static void netdev_watchdog_down(struct net_device *dev)
  */
 void netif_carrier_on(struct net_device *dev)
 {
+	if (READ_ONCE(dev->proto_down))
+		return;
+
 	if (test_and_clear_bit(__LINK_STATE_NOCARRIER, &dev->state)) {
 		if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
 			return;