diff --git a/drivers/net/ibm_newemac/core.c b/drivers/net/ibm_newemac/core.c
index beb84213b671..f0f890803710 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ibm_newemac/core.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ibm_newemac/core.c
@@ -1305,6 +1305,8 @@ static int emac_close(struct net_device *ndev)
 
 	free_irq(dev->emac_irq, dev);
 
+	netif_carrier_off(ndev);
+
 	return 0;
 }