diff --git a/net/nfc/core.c b/net/nfc/core.c
index 872529105abc..83b9927e7d19 100644
--- a/net/nfc/core.c
+++ b/net/nfc/core.c
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ int nfc_dep_link_is_up(struct nfc_dev *dev, u32 target_idx,
 {
 	dev->dep_link_up = true;
 
-	if (!dev->active_target) {
+	if (!dev->active_target && rf_mode == NFC_RF_INITIATOR) {
 		struct nfc_target *target;
 
 		target = nfc_find_target(dev, target_idx);