diff --git a/src/core/devices/nm-device.c b/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
index dc746131ef..ab6df72adf 100644
--- a/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
+++ b/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
@@ -16871,6 +16871,7 @@ nm_device_hw_addr_reset(NMDevice *self, const char *detail)
 {
     NMDevicePrivate *priv;
     const char      *addr;
+    int              ifindex;
 
     g_return_val_if_fail(NM_IS_DEVICE(self), FALSE);
 
@@ -16880,7 +16881,13 @@ nm_device_hw_addr_reset(NMDevice *self, const char *detail)
         return TRUE;
 
     priv->hw_addr_type = HW_ADDR_TYPE_UNSET;
-    addr               = nm_device_get_initial_hw_address(self);
+
+    ifindex = nm_device_get_ip_ifindex(self);
+    if (ifindex <= 0) {
+        return TRUE;
+    }
+
+    addr = nm_device_get_initial_hw_address(self);
     if (!addr) {
         /* as hw_addr_type is not UNSET, we expect that we can get an
          * initial address to which to reset. */