diff --git a/drivers/net/net_failover.c b/drivers/net/net_failover.c
index beeb7eb76ca3..57273188b71e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/net_failover.c
+++ b/drivers/net/net_failover.c
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ static int net_failover_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	return 0;
 
 err_standby_open:
-	dev_close(primary_dev);
+	if (primary_dev)
+		dev_close(primary_dev);
 err_primary_open:
 	netif_tx_disable(dev);
 	return err;