diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2x00usb.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2x00usb.c
index e4473a5..74c3d8c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2x00usb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ralink/rt2x00/rt2x00usb.c
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ static bool rt2x00usb_check_usb_error(struct rt2x00_dev *rt2x00dev, int status)
 	if (status == -ENODEV || status == -ENOENT)
 		return true;
 
+	if (!test_bit(DEVICE_STATE_STARTED, &rt2x00dev->flags))
+		return false;
+
 	if (status == -EPROTO || status == -ETIMEDOUT)
 		rt2x00dev->num_proto_errs++;
 	else