diff --git a/drivers/net/can/usb/kvaser_usb/kvaser_usb_leaf.c b/drivers/net/can/usb/kvaser_usb/kvaser_usb_leaf.c
index e391ec247f54..a9d565463559 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/usb/kvaser_usb/kvaser_usb_leaf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/usb/kvaser_usb/kvaser_usb_leaf.c
@@ -961,20 +961,16 @@ kvaser_usb_leaf_rx_error_update_can_state(struct kvaser_usb_net_priv *priv,
 		new_state = CAN_STATE_BUS_OFF;
 	} else if (es->status & M16C_STATE_BUS_PASSIVE) {
 		new_state = CAN_STATE_ERROR_PASSIVE;
-	} else if (es->status & M16C_STATE_BUS_ERROR) {
+	} else if ((es->status & M16C_STATE_BUS_ERROR) &&
+		   cur_state >= CAN_STATE_BUS_OFF) {
 		/* Guard against spurious error events after a busoff */
-		if (cur_state < CAN_STATE_BUS_OFF) {
-			if (es->txerr >= 128 || es->rxerr >= 128)
-				new_state = CAN_STATE_ERROR_PASSIVE;
-			else if (es->txerr >= 96 || es->rxerr >= 96)
-				new_state = CAN_STATE_ERROR_WARNING;
-			else if (cur_state > CAN_STATE_ERROR_ACTIVE)
-				new_state = CAN_STATE_ERROR_ACTIVE;
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (!es->status)
+	} else if (es->txerr >= 128 || es->rxerr >= 128) {
+		new_state = CAN_STATE_ERROR_PASSIVE;
+	} else if (es->txerr >= 96 || es->rxerr >= 96) {
+		new_state = CAN_STATE_ERROR_WARNING;
+	} else {
 		new_state = CAN_STATE_ERROR_ACTIVE;
+	}
 
 	if (new_state != cur_state) {
 		tx_state = (es->txerr >= es->rxerr) ? new_state : 0;