diff --git a/drivers/s390/net/netiucv.c b/drivers/s390/net/netiucv.c
index c358764f3264..648ee132cda4 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/net/netiucv.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/net/netiucv.c
@@ -1315,7 +1315,8 @@ static int netiucv_tx(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 	 * and throw away packet.
 	 */
 	if (fsm_getstate(privptr->fsm) != DEV_STATE_RUNNING) {
-		fsm_event(privptr->fsm, DEV_EVENT_START, dev);
+		if (!in_atomic())
+			fsm_event(privptr->fsm, DEV_EVENT_START, dev);
 		dev_kfree_skb(skb);
 		privptr->stats.tx_dropped++;
 		privptr->stats.tx_errors++;