diff --git a/sys/dev/gem/if_gem.c b/sys/dev/gem/if_gem.c
index d75e1ab8dc61..6f53eaea1c8b 100644
--- a/sys/dev/gem/if_gem.c
+++ b/sys/dev/gem/if_gem.c
@@ -947,8 +947,10 @@ gem_init_locked(struct gem_softc *sc)
 
 	GEM_LOCK_ASSERT(sc, MA_OWNED);
 
+#ifdef notyet
 	if ((ifp->if_drv_flags & IFF_DRV_RUNNING) != 0)
 		return;
+#endif
 
 #ifdef GEM_DEBUG
 	CTR2(KTR_GEM, "%s: %s: calling stop", device_get_name(sc->sc_dev),