diff --git a/drivers/net/can/slcan.c b/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
index bd3cf53246c7..b08e63f59b8e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/slcan.c
@@ -436,9 +436,20 @@ 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 != CAN_BITRATE_UNKNOWN) {
+			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);
 	}
@@ -497,14 +508,23 @@ static int slc_open(struct net_device *dev)
 			netdev_err(dev,
 				   "failed to send bitrate command 'C\\rS%d\\r'\n",
 				   s);
-			close_candev(dev);
-			return err;
+			goto cmd_transmit_failed;
+		}
+
+		err = slcan_transmit_cmd(sl, "O\r");
+		if (err) {
+			netdev_err(dev, "failed to send open command 'O\\r'\n");
+			goto cmd_transmit_failed;
 		}
 	}
 
 	sl->can.state = CAN_STATE_ERROR_ACTIVE;
 	netif_start_queue(dev);
 	return 0;
+
+cmd_transmit_failed:
+	close_candev(dev);
+	return err;
 }
 
 static void slc_dealloc(struct slcan *sl)