diff --git a/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c b/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c
index b45bce20ad7624421b7500cff3ccfc5a49f9204f..1b08d879837231256f4cc954bbe8fbd0c4aa9391 100644
--- a/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c
+++ b/drivers/net/xen-netback/xenbus.c
@@ -39,11 +39,15 @@ static int connect_rings(struct backend_info *);
 static void connect(struct backend_info *);
 static void backend_create_xenvif(struct backend_info *be);
 static void unregister_hotplug_status_watch(struct backend_info *be);
+static void set_backend_state(struct backend_info *be,
+			      enum xenbus_state state);
 
 static int netback_remove(struct xenbus_device *dev)
 {
 	struct backend_info *be = dev_get_drvdata(&dev->dev);
 
+	set_backend_state(be, XenbusStateClosed);
+
 	unregister_hotplug_status_watch(be);
 	if (be->vif) {
 		kobject_uevent(&dev->dev.kobj, KOBJ_OFFLINE);