diff --git a/sys/dev/em/if_em.c b/sys/dev/em/if_em.c
index 3fa1180d050..9d1a7452666 100644
--- a/sys/dev/em/if_em.c
+++ b/sys/dev/em/if_em.c
@@ -644,7 +644,9 @@ em_start(struct ifnet *ifp)
 	struct adapter *adapter = ifp->if_softc;
 
 	EM_LOCK(adapter);
-	em_start_locked(ifp);
+	if (ifp->if_drv_flags & IFF_DRV_RUNNING &&
+	    !IFQ_DRV_IS_EMPTY(&ifp->if_snd))
+		em_start_locked(ifp);
 	EM_UNLOCK(adapter);
 	return;
 }