diff --git a/net/netlink/af_netlink.c b/net/netlink/af_netlink.c
index 215fc08c02ab..330ebd600f25 100644
--- a/net/netlink/af_netlink.c
+++ b/net/netlink/af_netlink.c
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ static int netlink_release(struct socket *sock)
 
 	skb_queue_purge(&sk->sk_write_queue);
 
-	if (nlk->portid) {
+	if (nlk->portid && nlk->bound) {
 		struct netlink_notify n = {
 						.net = sock_net(sk),
 						.protocol = sk->sk_protocol,