diff --git a/drivers/net/skge.c b/drivers/net/skge.c
index 716467879b9c..8b6e2a11e28d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/skge.c
+++ b/drivers/net/skge.c
@@ -2280,11 +2280,13 @@ static int skge_xmit_frame(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
  	}
 
 	if (unlikely(skge->tx_avail < skb_shinfo(skb)->nr_frags +1)) {
-		netif_stop_queue(dev);
-		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&skge->tx_lock, flags);
+		if (!netif_stopped(dev)) {
+			netif_stop_queue(dev);
 
-		printk(KERN_WARNING PFX "%s: ring full when queue awake!\n",
-		       dev->name);
+			printk(KERN_WARNING PFX "%s: ring full when queue awake!\n",
+			       dev->name);
+		}
+		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&skge->tx_lock, flags);
 		return NETDEV_TX_BUSY;
 	}