diff --git a/include/linux/netdevice.h b/include/linux/netdevice.h
index 26f69cf763f4..324e872c91d1 100644
--- a/include/linux/netdevice.h
+++ b/include/linux/netdevice.h
@@ -1500,6 +1500,7 @@ struct net_device_ops {
  * @IFF_FAILOVER: device is a failover master device
  * @IFF_FAILOVER_SLAVE: device is lower dev of a failover master device
  * @IFF_L3MDEV_RX_HANDLER: only invoke the rx handler of L3 master device
+ * @IFF_LIVE_RENAME_OK: rename is allowed while device is up and running
  */
 enum netdev_priv_flags {
 	IFF_802_1Q_VLAN			= 1<<0,
@@ -1532,6 +1533,7 @@ enum netdev_priv_flags {
 	IFF_FAILOVER			= 1<<27,
 	IFF_FAILOVER_SLAVE		= 1<<28,
 	IFF_L3MDEV_RX_HANDLER		= 1<<29,
+	IFF_LIVE_RENAME_OK		= 1<<30,
 };
 
 #define IFF_802_1Q_VLAN			IFF_802_1Q_VLAN
@@ -1563,6 +1565,7 @@ enum netdev_priv_flags {
 #define IFF_FAILOVER			IFF_FAILOVER
 #define IFF_FAILOVER_SLAVE		IFF_FAILOVER_SLAVE
 #define IFF_L3MDEV_RX_HANDLER		IFF_L3MDEV_RX_HANDLER
+#define IFF_LIVE_RENAME_OK		IFF_LIVE_RENAME_OK
 
 /**
  *	struct net_device - The DEVICE structure.
diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index fdcff29df915..f409406254dd 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -1184,7 +1184,21 @@ int dev_change_name(struct net_device *dev, const char *newname)
 	BUG_ON(!dev_net(dev));
 
 	net = dev_net(dev);
-	if (dev->flags & IFF_UP)
+
+	/* Some auto-enslaved devices e.g. failover slaves are
+	 * special, as userspace might rename the device after
+	 * the interface had been brought up and running since
+	 * the point kernel initiated auto-enslavement. Allow
+	 * live name change even when these slave devices are
+	 * up and running.
+	 *
+	 * Typically, users of these auto-enslaving devices
+	 * don't actually care about slave name change, as
+	 * they are supposed to operate on master interface
+	 * directly.
+	 */
+	if (dev->flags & IFF_UP &&
+	    likely(!(dev->priv_flags & IFF_LIVE_RENAME_OK)))
 		return -EBUSY;
 
 	write_seqcount_begin(&devnet_rename_seq);
diff --git a/net/core/failover.c b/net/core/failover.c
index 4a92a98ccce9..b5cd3c727285 100644
--- a/net/core/failover.c
+++ b/net/core/failover.c
@@ -80,14 +80,14 @@ static int failover_slave_register(struct net_device *slave_dev)
 		goto err_upper_link;
 	}
 
-	slave_dev->priv_flags |= IFF_FAILOVER_SLAVE;
+	slave_dev->priv_flags |= (IFF_FAILOVER_SLAVE | IFF_LIVE_RENAME_OK);
 
 	if (fops && fops->slave_register &&
 	    !fops->slave_register(slave_dev, failover_dev))
 		return NOTIFY_OK;
 
 	netdev_upper_dev_unlink(slave_dev, failover_dev);
-	slave_dev->priv_flags &= ~IFF_FAILOVER_SLAVE;
+	slave_dev->priv_flags &= ~(IFF_FAILOVER_SLAVE | IFF_LIVE_RENAME_OK);
 err_upper_link:
 	netdev_rx_handler_unregister(slave_dev);
 done:
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ int failover_slave_unregister(struct net_device *slave_dev)
 
 	netdev_rx_handler_unregister(slave_dev);
 	netdev_upper_dev_unlink(slave_dev, failover_dev);
-	slave_dev->priv_flags &= ~IFF_FAILOVER_SLAVE;
+	slave_dev->priv_flags &= ~(IFF_FAILOVER_SLAVE | IFF_LIVE_RENAME_OK);
 
 	if (fops && fops->slave_unregister &&
 	    !fops->slave_unregister(slave_dev, failover_dev))