diff --git a/drivers/net/can/dev/dev.c b/drivers/net/can/dev/dev.c
index a5bbdfa9a269..735d5de3caa0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/dev/dev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/dev/dev.c
@@ -154,11 +154,12 @@ restart:
 	priv->can_stats.restarts++;
 
 	/* Now restart the device */
-	err = priv->do_set_mode(dev, CAN_MODE_START);
-
 	netif_carrier_on(dev);
-	if (err)
+	err = priv->do_set_mode(dev, CAN_MODE_START);
+	if (err) {
 		netdev_err(dev, "Error %d during restart", err);
+		netif_carrier_off(dev);
+	}
 }
 
 static void can_restart_work(struct work_struct *work)