diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index 7e885d069707..e82e9b82dfd9 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -9302,8 +9302,10 @@ int register_netdevice(struct net_device *dev)
 		goto err_uninit;
 
 	ret = netdev_register_kobject(dev);
-	if (ret)
+	if (ret) {
+		dev->reg_state = NETREG_UNREGISTERED;
 		goto err_uninit;
+	}
 	dev->reg_state = NETREG_REGISTERED;
 
 	__netdev_update_features(dev);