diff --git a/net/smc/smc_pnet.c b/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
index 11775401df68..306b536fa89e 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
@@ -806,6 +806,16 @@ static void smc_pnet_create_pnetids_list(struct net *net)
 	u8 ndev_pnetid[SMC_MAX_PNETID_LEN];
 	struct net_device *dev;
 
+	/* Newly created netns do not have devices.
+	 * Do not even acquire rtnl.
+	 */
+	if (list_empty(&net->dev_base_head))
+		return;
+
+	/* Note: This might not be needed, because smc_pnet_netdev_event()
+	 * is also calling smc_pnet_add_base_pnetid() when handling
+	 * NETDEV_UP event.
+	 */
 	rtnl_lock();
 	for_each_netdev(net, dev)
 		smc_pnet_add_base_pnetid(net, dev, ndev_pnetid);