diff --git a/drivers/rptun/rptun.c b/drivers/rptun/rptun.c
index d8fd1434d1..3a0bf76dc7 100644
--- a/drivers/rptun/rptun.c
+++ b/drivers/rptun/rptun.c
@@ -324,7 +324,10 @@ static int rptun_callback(FAR void *arg, uint32_t vqid)
   if (vqid == RPTUN_NOTIFY_ALL ||
       vqid == vdev->vrings_info[rvq->vq_queue_index].notifyid)
     {
-      rptun_wakeup_rx(priv);
+      if (rptun_buffer_nused(&priv->rvdev, true))
+        {
+          rptun_wakeup_rx(priv);
+        }
     }
 
   if (vqid == RPTUN_NOTIFY_ALL ||