diff --git a/net/mpls/af_mpls.c b/net/mpls/af_mpls.c
index a1477989ed0b..33211f9a2656 100644
--- a/net/mpls/af_mpls.c
+++ b/net/mpls/af_mpls.c
@@ -1288,7 +1288,8 @@ static void mpls_ifdown(struct net_device *dev, int event)
 				/* fall through */
 			case NETDEV_CHANGE:
 				nh->nh_flags |= RTNH_F_LINKDOWN;
-				ACCESS_ONCE(rt->rt_nhn_alive) = rt->rt_nhn_alive - 1;
+				if (event != NETDEV_UNREGISTER)
+					ACCESS_ONCE(rt->rt_nhn_alive) = rt->rt_nhn_alive - 1;
 				break;
 			}
 			if (event == NETDEV_UNREGISTER)