diff --git a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
index ac1b09b56c7769..92713b93f66f9c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
@@ -1816,7 +1816,8 @@ int bond_enslave(struct net_device *bond_dev, struct net_device *slave_dev,
 	slave_disable_netpoll(new_slave);
 
 err_close:
-	slave_dev->priv_flags &= ~IFF_BONDING;
+	if (!netif_is_bond_master(slave_dev))
+		slave_dev->priv_flags &= ~IFF_BONDING;
 	dev_close(slave_dev);
 
 err_restore_mac:
@@ -2017,7 +2018,8 @@ static int __bond_release_one(struct net_device *bond_dev,
 	else
 		dev_set_mtu(slave_dev, slave->original_mtu);
 
-	slave_dev->priv_flags &= ~IFF_BONDING;
+	if (!netif_is_bond_master(slave_dev))
+		slave_dev->priv_flags &= ~IFF_BONDING;
 
 	bond_free_slave(slave);