diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw_new.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw_new.c
index b9fc31eb0613..7f42f58a4b03 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw_new.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ti/cpsw_new.c
@@ -1472,7 +1472,7 @@ static void cpsw_unregister_ports(struct cpsw_common *cpsw)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < cpsw->data.slaves; i++) {
 		ndev = cpsw->slaves[i].ndev;
-		if (!ndev)
+		if (!ndev || ndev->reg_state != NETREG_REGISTERED)
 			continue;
 
 		priv = netdev_priv(ndev);
@@ -1494,7 +1494,6 @@ static int cpsw_register_ports(struct cpsw_common *cpsw)
 		if (ret) {
 			dev_err(cpsw->dev,
 				"cpsw: err registering net device%d\n", i);
-			cpsw->slaves[i].ndev = NULL;
 			break;
 		}
 	}