diff --git a/drivers/net/wan/dlci.c b/drivers/net/wan/dlci.c
index 1f6e0538c716af..6a8a382c5f4c07 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wan/dlci.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wan/dlci.c
@@ -384,6 +384,7 @@ static int dlci_del(struct dlci_add *dlci)
 	struct frad_local	*flp;
 	struct net_device	*master, *slave;
 	int			err;
+	bool			found = false;
 
 	rtnl_lock();
 
@@ -394,6 +395,17 @@ static int dlci_del(struct dlci_add *dlci)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	list_for_each_entry(dlp, &dlci_devs, list) {
+		if (dlp->master == master) {
+			found = true;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+	if (!found) {
+		err = -ENODEV;
+		goto out;
+	}
+
 	if (netif_running(master)) {
 		err = -EBUSY;
 		goto out;