diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index 8e187f90c85d..5a3196448bd7 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -7499,7 +7499,7 @@ static void netdev_wait_allrefs(struct net_device *dev)
 
 		refcnt = netdev_refcnt_read(dev);
 
-		if (time_after(jiffies, warning_time + 10 * HZ)) {
+		if (refcnt && time_after(jiffies, warning_time + 10 * HZ)) {
 			pr_emerg("unregister_netdevice: waiting for %s to become free. Usage count = %d\n",
 				 dev->name, refcnt);
 			warning_time = jiffies;