diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
index 0aed99a20029..5d7b8f03fe6c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/realtek/r8169_main.c
@@ -2227,6 +2227,9 @@ u16 rtl8168h_2_get_adc_bias_ioffset(struct rtl8169_private *tp)
 
 static void rtl_schedule_task(struct rtl8169_private *tp, enum rtl_flag flag)
 {
+	if (!test_bit(RTL_FLAG_TASK_ENABLED, tp->wk.flags))
+		return;
+
 	set_bit(flag, tp->wk.flags);
 	schedule_work(&tp->wk.work);
 }
@@ -4467,8 +4470,7 @@ static void rtl_task(struct work_struct *work)
 
 	rtnl_lock();
 
-	if (!netif_running(tp->dev) ||
-	    !test_bit(RTL_FLAG_TASK_ENABLED, tp->wk.flags))
+	if (!test_bit(RTL_FLAG_TASK_ENABLED, tp->wk.flags))
 		goto out_unlock;
 
 	if (test_and_clear_bit(RTL_FLAG_TASK_TX_TIMEOUT, tp->wk.flags)) {