diff --git a/drivers/net/can/dev/dev.c b/drivers/net/can/dev/dev.c
index 6c1ceb8ce6c4..88f345966c99 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/dev/dev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/dev/dev.c
@@ -147,15 +147,15 @@ static void can_restart(struct net_device *dev)
 		netif_rx(skb);
 	}
 
-	netdev_dbg(dev, "restarted\n");
-	priv->can_stats.restarts++;
-
 	/* Now restart the device */
 	netif_carrier_on(dev);
 	err = priv->do_set_mode(dev, CAN_MODE_START);
 	if (err) {
-		netdev_err(dev, "Error %d during restart", err);
+		netdev_err(dev, "Restart failed, error %pe\n", ERR_PTR(err));
 		netif_carrier_off(dev);
+	} else {
+		netdev_dbg(dev, "Restarted\n");
+		priv->can_stats.restarts++;
 	}
 }