diff --git a/drivers/net/loopback.c b/drivers/net/loopback.c
index 3b39def5471e..14545a8797a8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/loopback.c
+++ b/drivers/net/loopback.c
@@ -261,8 +261,10 @@ static int __init blackhole_netdev_init(void)
 	if (!blackhole_netdev)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
+	rtnl_lock();
 	dev_init_scheduler(blackhole_netdev);
 	dev_activate(blackhole_netdev);
+	rtnl_unlock();
 
 	blackhole_netdev->flags |= IFF_UP | IFF_RUNNING;
 	dev_net_set(blackhole_netdev, &init_net);