diff --git a/net/can/j1939/socket.c b/net/can/j1939/socket.c
index bf9fd6ee88fe..047090960539 100644
--- a/net/can/j1939/socket.c
+++ b/net/can/j1939/socket.c
@@ -475,6 +475,12 @@ static int j1939_sk_bind(struct socket *sock, struct sockaddr *uaddr, int len)
 			goto out_release_sock;
 		}
 
+		if (!(ndev->flags & IFF_UP)) {
+			dev_put(ndev);
+			ret = -ENETDOWN;
+			goto out_release_sock;
+		}
+
 		priv = j1939_netdev_start(ndev);
 		dev_put(ndev);
 		if (IS_ERR(priv)) {