diff --git a/drivers/net/bnx2x_main.c b/drivers/net/bnx2x_main.c
index ef8103b3523e..4be05847f86f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnx2x_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnx2x_main.c
@@ -8243,6 +8243,9 @@ static int bnx2x_set_eeprom(struct net_device *dev,
 	struct bnx2x *bp = netdev_priv(dev);
 	int rc;
 
+	if (!netif_running(dev))
+		return -EAGAIN;
+
 	DP(BNX2X_MSG_NVM, "ethtool_eeprom: cmd %d\n"
 	   DP_LEVEL "  magic 0x%x  offset 0x%x (%d)  len 0x%x (%d)\n",
 	   eeprom->cmd, eeprom->magic, eeprom->offset, eeprom->offset,