diff --git a/drivers/char/hw_random/virtio-rng.c b/drivers/char/hw_random/virtio-rng.c
index 849b22877196..132c9ccfdc62 100644
--- a/drivers/char/hw_random/virtio-rng.c
+++ b/drivers/char/hw_random/virtio-rng.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ struct virtrng_info {
 	int index;
 	bool busy;
 	bool hwrng_register_done;
+	bool hwrng_removed;
 };
 
 
@@ -68,6 +69,9 @@ static int virtio_read(struct hwrng *rng, void *buf, size_t size, bool wait)
 	int ret;
 	struct virtrng_info *vi = (struct virtrng_info *)rng->priv;
 
+	if (vi->hwrng_removed)
+		return -ENODEV;
+
 	if (!vi->busy) {
 		vi->busy = true;
 		init_completion(&vi->have_data);
@@ -137,6 +141,7 @@ static void remove_common(struct virtio_device *vdev)
 {
 	struct virtrng_info *vi = vdev->priv;
 
+	vi->hwrng_removed = true;
 	vi->data_avail = 0;
 	complete(&vi->have_data);
 	vdev->config->reset(vdev);