diff --git a/ports/esp32/network_lan.c b/ports/esp32/network_lan.c
index 570c9a4afdef..33318cc988ae 100644
--- a/ports/esp32/network_lan.c
+++ b/ports/esp32/network_lan.c
@@ -314,13 +314,15 @@ static mp_obj_t lan_active(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args) {
     if (n_args > 1) {
         if (mp_obj_is_true(args[1])) {
             esp_netif_set_hostname(self->base.netif, mod_network_hostname_data);
-            self->base.active = (esp_eth_start(self->eth_handle) == ESP_OK);
-            if (!self->base.active) {
+            esp_err_t res = esp_eth_start(self->eth_handle);
+            self->base.active = (res == ESP_OK);
+            if (!self->base.active && res != ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE) {
                 mp_raise_msg(&mp_type_OSError, MP_ERROR_TEXT("ethernet enable failed"));
             }
         } else {
-            self->base.active = !(esp_eth_stop(self->eth_handle) == ESP_OK);
-            if (self->base.active) {
+            esp_err_t res = esp_eth_stop(self->eth_handle);
+            self->base.active = !(res == ESP_OK);
+            if (self->base.active && res != ESP_ERR_INVALID_STATE) {
                 mp_raise_msg(&mp_type_OSError, MP_ERROR_TEXT("ethernet disable failed"));
             }
         }