diff --git a/net/core/netdev-genl.c b/net/core/netdev-genl.c
index c3aa367214ac..384fdc5ae514 100644
--- a/net/core/netdev-genl.c
+++ b/net/core/netdev-genl.c
@@ -1506,6 +1506,12 @@ static int netdev_genl_netdevice_event(struct notifier_block *nb,
 		netdev_unlock_full_to_ops(netdev);
 		break;
 	case NETDEV_UNREGISTER:
+		/* netdev_wait_allrefs_any() rebroadcasts NETDEV_UNREGISTER
+		 * while waiting for the last references to be dropped; the
+		 * netns may already be torn down by then. Notify only once.
+		 */
+		if (READ_ONCE(netdev->reg_state) == NETREG_UNREGISTERED)
+			break;
 		netdev_lock(netdev);
 		netdev_genl_dev_notify(netdev, NETDEV_CMD_DEV_DEL_NTF);
 		netdev_unlock(netdev);