diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index 4addaf0..a1607bc 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -994,6 +994,8 @@
 {
 	int ret = 0;
 
+	ASSERT_RTNL();
+
 	/*
 	 *	Is it already up?
 	 */
@@ -1060,6 +1062,8 @@
  */
 int dev_close(struct net_device *dev)
 {
+	ASSERT_RTNL();
+
 	might_sleep();
 
 	if (!(dev->flags & IFF_UP))