diff --git a/net/smc/smc_pnet.c b/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
index 30bae60d626c63b1b37d7f4d919c4b184ba5acf4..ed9cfa11b589fd215a6b50ad1918f2113270534b 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
@@ -797,6 +797,16 @@ static void smc_pnet_create_pnetids_list(struct net *net)
 	u8 ndev_pnetid[SMC_MAX_PNETID_LEN];
 	struct net_device *dev;
 
+	/* Newly created netns do not have devices.
+	 * Do not even acquire rtnl.
+	 */
+	if (list_empty(&net->dev_base_head))
+		return;
+
+	/* Note: This might not be needed, because smc_pnet_netdev_event()
+	 * is also calling smc_pnet_add_base_pnetid() when handling
+	 * NETDEV_UP event.
+	 */
 	rtnl_lock();
 	for_each_netdev(net, dev)
 		smc_pnet_add_base_pnetid(net, dev, ndev_pnetid);