diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index dabed5337a9d..c3da35f3c7e4 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -330,6 +330,12 @@ int netdev_name_node_alt_destroy(struct net_device *dev, const char *name)
 	name_node = netdev_name_node_lookup(net, name);
 	if (!name_node)
 		return -ENOENT;
+	/* lookup might have found our primary name or a name belonging
+	 * to another device.
+	 */
+	if (name_node == dev->name_node || name_node->dev != dev)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	__netdev_name_node_alt_destroy(name_node);
 
 	return 0;