diff --git a/net/ipv6/addrconf.c b/net/ipv6/addrconf.c
index 6c8ab3e6e6fe..f908e2fd30b2 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/addrconf.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/addrconf.c
@@ -3732,6 +3732,7 @@ static int addrconf_ifdown(struct net_device *dev, bool unregister)
 	struct inet6_dev *idev;
 	struct inet6_ifaddr *ifa, *tmp;
 	bool keep_addr = false;
+	bool was_ready;
 	int state, i;
 
 	ASSERT_RTNL();
@@ -3797,7 +3798,10 @@ static int addrconf_ifdown(struct net_device *dev, bool unregister)
 
 	addrconf_del_rs_timer(idev);
 
-	/* Step 2: clear flags for stateless addrconf */
+	/* Step 2: clear flags for stateless addrconf, repeated down
+	 *         detection
+	 */
+	was_ready = idev->if_flags & IF_READY;
 	if (!unregister)
 		idev->if_flags &= ~(IF_RS_SENT|IF_RA_RCVD|IF_READY);
 
@@ -3871,7 +3875,7 @@ static int addrconf_ifdown(struct net_device *dev, bool unregister)
 	if (unregister) {
 		ipv6_ac_destroy_dev(idev);
 		ipv6_mc_destroy_dev(idev);
-	} else {
+	} else if (was_ready) {
 		ipv6_mc_down(idev);
 	}