diff --git a/ofproto/ofproto-dpif.c b/ofproto/ofproto-dpif.c
index 0222ec82f00..d56cece95e9 100644
--- a/ofproto/ofproto-dpif.c
+++ b/ofproto/ofproto-dpif.c
@@ -698,8 +698,10 @@ close_dpif_backer(struct dpif_backer *backer, bool del)
 
     udpif_destroy(backer->udpif);
 
-    SIMAP_FOR_EACH (node, &backer->tnl_backers) {
-        dpif_port_del(backer->dpif, u32_to_odp(node->data), false);
+    if (del) {
+        SIMAP_FOR_EACH (node, &backer->tnl_backers) {
+            dpif_port_del(backer->dpif, u32_to_odp(node->data), false);
+        }
     }
     simap_destroy(&backer->tnl_backers);
     ovs_rwlock_destroy(&backer->odp_to_ofport_lock);