diff --git a/net/ipv6/ip6_tunnel.c b/net/ipv6/ip6_tunnel.c
index 1fc9daa7b1d6..a39f28ffbd63 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/ip6_tunnel.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/ip6_tunnel.c
@@ -2231,6 +2231,9 @@ static int __init ip6_tunnel_init(void)
 {
 	int  err;
 
+	if (!ipv6_mod_enabled())
+		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+
 	err = register_pernet_device(&ip6_tnl_net_ops);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out_pernet;