diff --git a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
index 257333c88710..8832bc9f107b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
@@ -2132,6 +2132,7 @@ int bond_enslave(struct net_device *bond_dev, struct net_device *slave_dev,
 		memcpy(ss.__data, bond_dev->dev_addr, bond_dev->addr_len);
 	} else if (bond->params.fail_over_mac == BOND_FOM_FOLLOW &&
 		   BOND_MODE(bond) == BOND_MODE_ACTIVEBACKUP &&
+		   bond_has_slaves(bond) &&
 		   memcmp(slave_dev->dev_addr, bond_dev->dev_addr, bond_dev->addr_len) == 0) {
 		/* Set slave to random address to avoid duplicate mac
 		 * address in later fail over.