diff --git a/src/plugins/dpdk/device/device.c b/src/plugins/dpdk/device/device.c
index 1fdee48..6d130a9 100644
--- a/src/plugins/dpdk/device/device.c
+++ b/src/plugins/dpdk/device/device.c
@@ -470,11 +470,15 @@
   if (is_up)
     {
       if ((xd->flags & DPDK_DEVICE_FLAG_ADMIN_UP) == 0)
-	dpdk_device_start (xd);
-      xd->flags |= DPDK_DEVICE_FLAG_ADMIN_UP;
-      f64 now = vlib_time_now (dm->vlib_main);
-      dpdk_update_counters (xd, now);
-      dpdk_update_link_state (xd, now);
+	{
+	  dpdk_device_start (xd);
+	  if (vec_len (xd->errors))
+	    return clib_error_create ("Interface start failed");
+	  xd->flags |= DPDK_DEVICE_FLAG_ADMIN_UP;
+	  f64 now = vlib_time_now (dm->vlib_main);
+	  dpdk_update_counters (xd, now);
+	  dpdk_update_link_state (xd, now);
+	}
     }
   else
     {