diff --git a/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c b/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
index a57daecf1d57..2d8812dd1534 100644
--- a/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
+++ b/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ struct netfront_cb {
 /* IRQ name is queue name with "-tx" or "-rx" appended */
 #define IRQ_NAME_SIZE (QUEUE_NAME_SIZE + 3)
 
+static DECLARE_WAIT_QUEUE_HEAD(module_load_q);
 static DECLARE_WAIT_QUEUE_HEAD(module_unload_q);
 
 struct netfront_stats {
@@ -1330,6 +1331,11 @@ static struct net_device *xennet_create_dev(struct xenbus_device *dev)
 	netif_carrier_off(netdev);
 
 	xenbus_switch_state(dev, XenbusStateInitialising);
+	wait_event(module_load_q,
+			   xenbus_read_driver_state(dev->otherend) !=
+			   XenbusStateClosed &&
+			   xenbus_read_driver_state(dev->otherend) !=
+			   XenbusStateUnknown);
 	return netdev;
 
  exit: