queue_work(ipoib_workqueue, &priv->mcast_task);
        mutex_unlock(&mcast_mutex);
 
+       spin_lock_irq(&priv->lock);
+       set_bit(IPOIB_MCAST_STARTED, &priv->flags);
+       spin_unlock_irq(&priv->lock);
+
        return 0;
 }
 
 
        ipoib_dbg_mcast(priv, "stopping multicast thread\n");
 
+       spin_lock_irq(&priv->lock);
+       clear_bit(IPOIB_MCAST_STARTED, &priv->flags);
+       spin_unlock_irq(&priv->lock);
+
        mutex_lock(&mcast_mutex);
        clear_bit(IPOIB_MCAST_RUN, &priv->flags);
        cancel_delayed_work(&priv->mcast_task);
         */
        spin_lock(&priv->lock);
 
+       if (!test_bit(IPOIB_MCAST_STARTED, &priv->flags)) {
+               ++priv->stats.tx_dropped;
+               dev_kfree_skb_any(skb);
+               goto unlock;
+       }
+
        mcast = __ipoib_mcast_find(dev, mgid);
        if (!mcast) {
                /* Let's create a new send only group now */
                ipoib_send(dev, skb, mcast->ah, IB_MULTICAST_QPN);
        }
 
+unlock:
        spin_unlock(&priv->lock);
 }