diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index c14091c73041..1c0224e8fc78 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -8705,8 +8705,10 @@ int register_netdevice(struct net_device *dev)
 		goto err_uninit;
 
 	ret = netdev_register_kobject(dev);
-	if (ret)
+	if (ret) {
+		dev->reg_state = NETREG_UNREGISTERED;
 		goto err_uninit;
+	}
 	dev->reg_state = NETREG_REGISTERED;
 
 	__netdev_update_features(dev);