diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index 44c2d698fd1b4..62b39d6b1d8f4 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -11066,7 +11066,8 @@ void free_netdev(struct net_device *dev)
 	phy_link_topo_destroy(dev->link_topo);
 
 	/*  Compatibility with error handling in drivers */
-	if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED) {
+	if (dev->reg_state == NETREG_UNINITIALIZED ||
+	    dev->reg_state == NETREG_DUMMY) {
 		netdev_freemem(dev);
 		return;
 	}