diff --git a/drivers/net/can/usb/gs_usb.c b/drivers/net/can/usb/gs_usb.c
index baf749c8cda3..553e2c7b0b12 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/usb/gs_usb.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/usb/gs_usb.c
@@ -824,6 +824,7 @@ static int gs_can_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 		flags |= GS_CAN_MODE_TRIPLE_SAMPLE;
 
 	/* finally start device */
+	dev->can.state = CAN_STATE_ERROR_ACTIVE;
 	dm->mode = cpu_to_le32(GS_CAN_MODE_START);
 	dm->flags = cpu_to_le32(flags);
 	rc = usb_control_msg(interface_to_usbdev(dev->iface),
@@ -835,13 +836,12 @@ static int gs_can_open(struct net_device *netdev)
 	if (rc < 0) {
 		netdev_err(netdev, "Couldn't start device (err=%d)\n", rc);
 		kfree(dm);
+		dev->can.state = CAN_STATE_STOPPED;
 		return rc;
 	}
 
 	kfree(dm);
 
-	dev->can.state = CAN_STATE_ERROR_ACTIVE;
-
 	parent->active_channels++;
 	if (!(dev->can.ctrlmode & CAN_CTRLMODE_LISTENONLY))
 		netif_start_queue(netdev);