diff --git a/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c b/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
index 391432e2725d..c980cdbd6e53 100644
--- a/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
+++ b/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
@@ -1326,6 +1326,7 @@ static struct net_device *xennet_create_dev(struct xenbus_device *dev)
 
 	netif_carrier_off(netdev);
 
+	xenbus_switch_state(dev, XenbusStateInitialising);
 	return netdev;
 
  exit: