diff --git a/drivers/net/can/slcan.c b/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
index f18097c62222..d63d270d21da 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
@@ -438,9 +438,20 @@ static int slcan_transmit_cmd(struct slcan *sl, const unsigned char *cmd)
 static int slc_close(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	struct slcan *sl = netdev_priv(dev);
+	int err;
 
 	spin_lock_bh(&sl->lock);
 	if (sl->tty) {
+		if (sl->can.bittiming.bitrate &&
+		    sl->can.bittiming.bitrate != -1) {
+			spin_unlock_bh(&sl->lock);
+			err = slcan_transmit_cmd(sl, "C\r");
+			spin_lock_bh(&sl->lock);
+			if (err)
+				netdev_warn(dev,
+					    "failed to send close command 'C\\r'\n");
+		}
+
 		/* TTY discipline is running. */
 		clear_bit(TTY_DO_WRITE_WAKEUP, &sl->tty->flags);
 	}