diff --git a/net/ipv4/ipconfig.c b/net/ipv4/ipconfig.c
index ab7e5542c1cf..7fbcabafa29b 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/ipconfig.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/ipconfig.c
@@ -252,6 +252,10 @@ static int __init ic_open_devs(void)
 		}
 	}
 
+	/* no point in waiting if we could not bring up at least one device */
+	if (!ic_first_dev)
+		goto have_carrier;
+
 	/* wait for a carrier on at least one device */
 	start = jiffies;
 	while (jiffies - start < msecs_to_jiffies(CONF_CARRIER_TIMEOUT)) {