diff --git a/linux-2.6-xen-sparse/drivers/xen/netback/xenbus.c b/linux-2.6-xen-sparse/drivers/xen/netback/xenbus.c
index 526e02ab0a..52a4fc98c8 100644
--- a/linux-2.6-xen-sparse/drivers/xen/netback/xenbus.c
+++ b/linux-2.6-xen-sparse/drivers/xen/netback/xenbus.c
@@ -213,7 +213,8 @@ static void frontend_changed(struct xenbus_device *dev,
 		break;
 
 	case XenbusStateClosed:
-		kobject_uevent(&dev->dev.kobj, KOBJ_OFFLINE);
+		if (be->netif != NULL)
+			kobject_uevent(&dev->dev.kobj, KOBJ_OFFLINE);
 		device_unregister(&dev->dev);
 		break;