diff --git a/net/core/link_watch.c b/net/core/link_watch.c
index f153e0601838..35b0e39030da 100644
--- a/net/core/link_watch.c
+++ b/net/core/link_watch.c
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ static void linkwatch_do_dev(struct net_device *dev)
 	clear_bit(__LINK_STATE_LINKWATCH_PENDING, &dev->state);
 
 	rfc2863_policy(dev);
-	if (dev->flags & IFF_UP && netif_device_present(dev)) {
+	if (dev->flags & IFF_UP) {
 		if (netif_carrier_ok(dev))
 			dev_activate(dev);
 		else
@@ -196,7 +196,8 @@ static void __linkwatch_run_queue(int urgent_only)
 		dev = list_first_entry(&wrk, struct net_device, link_watch_list);
 		list_del_init(&dev->link_watch_list);
 
-		if (urgent_only && !linkwatch_urgent_event(dev)) {
+		if (!netif_device_present(dev) ||
+		    (urgent_only && !linkwatch_urgent_event(dev))) {
 			list_add_tail(&dev->link_watch_list, &lweventlist);
 			continue;
 		}