diff --git a/net/core/link_watch.c b/net/core/link_watch.c
index 1e401e12dc72..bf8f7af699d7 100644
--- a/net/core/link_watch.c
+++ b/net/core/link_watch.c
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ static void __linkwatch_run_queue(int urgent_only)
 		 */
 		clear_bit(__LINK_STATE_LINKWATCH_PENDING, &dev->state);
 
+		rfc2863_policy(dev);
 		if (dev->flags & IFF_UP) {
 			if (netif_carrier_ok(dev))
 				dev_activate(dev);
@@ -214,12 +215,6 @@ void linkwatch_fire_event(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	bool urgent = linkwatch_urgent_event(dev);
 
-	rfc2863_policy(dev);
-
-	/* Some drivers call netif_carrier_off early */
-	if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
-		return;
-
 	if (!test_and_set_bit(__LINK_STATE_LINKWATCH_PENDING, &dev->state)) {
 		dev_hold(dev);
 
diff --git a/net/sched/sch_generic.c b/net/sched/sch_generic.c
index 23a8e6141a00..5f5efe4e6072 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_generic.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_generic.c
@@ -270,6 +270,8 @@ static void dev_watchdog_down(struct net_device *dev)
 void netif_carrier_on(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	if (test_and_clear_bit(__LINK_STATE_NOCARRIER, &dev->state)) {
+		if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
+			return;
 		linkwatch_fire_event(dev);
 		if (netif_running(dev))
 			__netdev_watchdog_up(dev);
@@ -286,6 +288,8 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(netif_carrier_on);
 void netif_carrier_off(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	if (!test_and_set_bit(__LINK_STATE_NOCARRIER, &dev->state)) {
+		if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED)
+			return;
 		linkwatch_fire_event(dev);
 	}
 }