diff --git a/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c b/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
index 002062d..e27e6d2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
+++ b/drivers/net/xen-netfront.c
@@ -1348,7 +1348,8 @@
 		queue->tx_evtchn = queue->rx_evtchn = 0;
 		queue->tx_irq = queue->rx_irq = 0;
 
-		napi_synchronize(&queue->napi);
+		if (netif_running(info->netdev))
+			napi_synchronize(&queue->napi);
 
 		xennet_release_tx_bufs(queue);
 		xennet_release_rx_bufs(queue);