diff --git a/drivers/net/wan/lapbether.c b/drivers/net/wan/lapbether.c
index bbcd8ef2873f..4f52003bf422 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wan/lapbether.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wan/lapbether.c
@@ -341,6 +341,9 @@ static int lapbeth_new_device(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	ASSERT_RTNL();
 
+	if (dev->type != ARPHRD_ETHER)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	ndev = alloc_netdev(sizeof(*lapbeth), "lapb%d", NET_NAME_UNKNOWN,
 			    lapbeth_setup);
 	if (!ndev)