diff --git a/drivers/net/davinci_emac.c b/drivers/net/davinci_emac.c
index 2a628d1..7018bfe 100644
--- a/drivers/net/davinci_emac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/davinci_emac.c
@@ -1008,7 +1008,7 @@
 	int			ret;
 
 	/* free and bail if we are shutting down */
-	if (unlikely(!netif_running(ndev))) {
+	if (unlikely(!netif_running(ndev) || !netif_carrier_ok(ndev))) {
 		dev_kfree_skb_any(skb);
 		return;
 	}