diff --git a/drivers/net/wan/hdlc_ppp.c b/drivers/net/wan/hdlc_ppp.c
index afeca6bcdade..ab8b3cbbb205 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wan/hdlc_ppp.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wan/hdlc_ppp.c
@@ -574,7 +574,10 @@ static void ppp_timer(struct timer_list *t)
 			ppp_cp_event(proto->dev, proto->pid, TO_GOOD, 0, 0,
 				     0, NULL);
 			proto->restart_counter--;
-		} else
+		} else if (netif_carrier_ok(proto->dev))
+			ppp_cp_event(proto->dev, proto->pid, TO_GOOD, 0, 0,
+				     0, NULL);
+		else
 			ppp_cp_event(proto->dev, proto->pid, TO_BAD, 0, 0,
 				     0, NULL);
 		break;