diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb.c
index f20718b730e5..69fa47351a32 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cadence/macb.c
@@ -2031,6 +2031,9 @@ static struct net_device_stats *gem_get_stats(struct macb *bp)
 	struct gem_stats *hwstat = &bp->hw_stats.gem;
 	struct net_device_stats *nstat = &bp->stats;
 
+	if (!netif_running(bp->dev))
+		return nstat;
+
 	gem_update_stats(bp);
 
 	nstat->rx_errors = (hwstat->rx_frame_check_sequence_errors +