diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_eswitch.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_eswitch.c
index 2ffe5708a045..7de4a8a4b563 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_eswitch.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/ice/ice_eswitch.c
@@ -361,6 +361,9 @@ ice_eswitch_port_start_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *netdev)
 	np = netdev_priv(netdev);
 	vsi = np->vsi;
 
+	if (!vsi || !ice_is_switchdev_running(vsi->back))
+		return NETDEV_TX_BUSY;
+
 	if (ice_is_reset_in_progress(vsi->back->state) ||
 	    test_bit(ICE_VF_DIS, vsi->back->state))
 		return NETDEV_TX_BUSY;