diff --git a/drivers/net/can/dev.c b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
index 214a48703a4e..ffc5467a1ec2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/dev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
@@ -1095,6 +1095,8 @@ static struct rtnl_link_ops can_link_ops __read_mostly = {
 int register_candev(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	dev->rtnl_link_ops = &can_link_ops;
+	netif_carrier_off(dev);
+
 	return register_netdev(dev);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(register_candev);