diff --git a/src/core/devices/nm-device.c b/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
index 8a1c80f313..753e320066 100644
--- a/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
+++ b/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
@@ -7920,6 +7920,9 @@ nm_device_slave_notify_release(NMDevice *self, NMDeviceStateReason reason)
 
     g_return_if_fail(priv->master);
 
+    if (!priv->is_enslaved)
+        return;
+
     if (priv->state > NM_DEVICE_STATE_DISCONNECTED && priv->state <= NM_DEVICE_STATE_ACTIVATED) {
         switch (nm_device_state_reason_check(reason)) {
         case NM_DEVICE_STATE_REASON_DEPENDENCY_FAILED:
@@ -7949,14 +7952,12 @@ nm_device_slave_notify_release(NMDevice *self, NMDeviceStateReason reason)
     } else
         _LOGI(LOGD_DEVICE, "released from master device %s", nm_device_get_iface(priv->master));
 
-    if (priv->is_enslaved) {
-        priv->is_enslaved = FALSE;
+    priv->is_enslaved = FALSE;
 
-        _notify(self, PROP_MASTER);
+    _notify(self, PROP_MASTER);
 
-        nm_clear_pointer(&NM_DEVICE_GET_PRIVATE(priv->master)->ports_variant, g_variant_unref);
-        nm_gobject_notify_together(priv->master, PROP_PORTS, PROP_SLAVES);
-    }
+    nm_clear_pointer(&NM_DEVICE_GET_PRIVATE(priv->master)->ports_variant, g_variant_unref);
+    nm_gobject_notify_together(priv->master, PROP_PORTS, PROP_SLAVES);
 }
 
 /**