diff --git a/sys/net/if.c b/sys/net/if.c
--- a/sys/net/if.c
+++ b/sys/net/if.c
@@ -2235,8 +2235,7 @@
 
 	NET_EPOCH_ENTER(et);
 	CK_STAILQ_FOREACH(ifp, &V_ifnet, if_link) {
-		if (strncmp(name, ifp->if_xname, IFNAMSIZ) == 0 &&
-		    !(ifp->if_flags & IFF_DYING))
+		if (strncmp(name, ifp->if_xname, IFNAMSIZ) == 0)
 			break;
 	}
 	if (ifp != NULL) {