diff --git a/drivers/net/can/dev.c b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
index c05e4d50d43d..bd127ce3aba2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/dev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
@@ -1260,6 +1260,8 @@ int register_candev(struct net_device *dev)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	dev->rtnl_link_ops = &can_link_ops;
+	netif_carrier_off(dev);
+
 	return register_netdev(dev);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(register_candev);