diff --git a/net/8021q/vlan.c b/net/8021q/vlan.c
index f292e0267bb9..15bbfaf943fd 100644
--- a/net/8021q/vlan.c
+++ b/net/8021q/vlan.c
@@ -284,7 +284,8 @@ static int register_vlan_device(struct net_device *real_dev, u16 vlan_id)
 	return 0;
 
 out_free_newdev:
-	if (new_dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
+	if (new_dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED ||
+	    new_dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNREGISTERED)
 		free_netdev(new_dev);
 	return err;
 }