diff --git a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
index c5a646d06102..16840c9bc00d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
@@ -1601,6 +1601,12 @@ int bond_enslave(struct net_device *bond_dev, struct net_device *slave_dev,
 	int link_reporting;
 	int res = 0, i;
 
+	if (slave_dev->flags & IFF_MASTER) {
+		netdev_err(bond_dev,
+			   "Error: Device with IFF_MASTER cannot be enslaved\n");
+		return -EPERM;
+	}
+
 	if (!bond->params.use_carrier &&
 	    slave_dev->ethtool_ops->get_link == NULL &&
 	    slave_ops->ndo_do_ioctl == NULL) {