diff --git a/sys/dev/dc/if_dc.c b/sys/dev/dc/if_dc.c
index bf1d86d8a62..242c928ab2a 100644
--- a/sys/dev/dc/if_dc.c
+++ b/sys/dev/dc/if_dc.c
@@ -3138,8 +3138,9 @@ dc_intr(void *arg)
 	/* Disable interrupts. */
 	CSR_WRITE_4(sc, DC_IMR, 0x00000000);
 
-	while (((status = CSR_READ_4(sc, DC_ISR)) & DC_INTRS)
-	      && status != 0xFFFFFFFF) {
+	while (((status = CSR_READ_4(sc, DC_ISR)) & DC_INTRS) &&
+	    status != 0xFFFFFFFF &&
+	    ifp->if_drv_flags & IFF_DRV_RUNNING) {
 
 		CSR_WRITE_4(sc, DC_ISR, status);