diff --git a/drivers/net/can/slcan.c b/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
index 8561bcee81ba..ec682715ce99 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
@@ -461,8 +461,15 @@ static int slc_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	 * can.bittiming.bitrate is 0, causing open_candev() to fail.
 	 * So let's set to a fake value.
 	 */
-	if (sl->can.bittiming.bitrate == 0)
+	if (sl->can.bittiming.bitrate == 0) {
 		sl->can.bittiming.bitrate = -1UL;
+	} else {
+		err = slcan_transmit_cmd(sl, "O\r");
+		if (err) {
+			netdev_err(dev, "failed to send open command 'O\\r'\n");
+			return err;
+		}
+	}
 
 	err = open_candev(dev);
 	if (err) {