diff --git a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_h4.c b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_h4.c
index c60623f206d4d255b59a29ea4de209a014e28421..8ae9f1ea2bb5e59dd40f5c905c3057b5f0e35417 100644
--- a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_h4.c
+++ b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_h4.c
@@ -153,6 +153,9 @@ static int h4_recv(struct hci_uart *hu, void *data, int count)
 {
 	int ret;
 
+	if (!test_bit(HCI_UART_REGISTERED, &hu->flags))
+		return -EUNATCH;
+
 	ret = hci_recv_stream_fragment(hu->hdev, data, count);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		BT_ERR("Frame Reassembly Failed");