diff --git a/sys/netinet/ip_carp.h b/sys/netinet/ip_carp.h
--- a/sys/netinet/ip_carp.h
+++ b/sys/netinet/ip_carp.h
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@
 	int		carpr_vhid;
 #define	CARP_MAXVHID	255
 	int		carpr_state;
-#define	CARP_STATES	"INIT", "BACKUP", "MASTER"
+#define	CARP_STATES	"INIT", "BACKUP", "MASTER", "SUPPRESS"
 #define	CARP_MAXSTATE	2
 	int		carpr_advskew;
 #define	CARP_MAXSKEW	240
diff --git a/sys/netinet/ip_carp.c b/sys/netinet/ip_carp.c
--- a/sys/netinet/ip_carp.c
+++ b/sys/netinet/ip_carp.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
 	int			sc_naddrs;
 	int			sc_naddrs6;
 	int			sc_ifasiz;
-	enum { INIT = 0, BACKUP, MASTER }	sc_state;
+	enum { INIT = 0, BACKUP, MASTER, SUPPRESS }	sc_state;
 	int			sc_suppress;
 	int			sc_sendad_errors;
 #define	CARP_SENDAD_MAX_ERRORS	3
@@ -762,6 +762,7 @@
 	ch_tv.tv_usec = ch->carp_advskew * 1000000 / 256;
 
 	switch (sc->sc_state) {
+	case SUPPRESS:
 	case INIT:
 		break;
 	case MASTER:
@@ -1341,6 +1342,7 @@
 		carp_setrun(sc, 0);
 		carp_addroute(sc);
 		break;
+	case SUPPRESS:
 	case INIT:
 	case MASTER:
 #ifdef INVARIANTS
@@ -1371,6 +1373,7 @@
 		return;
 
 	switch (sc->sc_state) {
+	case SUPPRESS:
 	case INIT:
 		carp_set_state(sc, BACKUP, "initialization complete");
 		carp_setrun(sc, 0);
@@ -1838,7 +1841,7 @@
 		bcopy(carpr->carpr_key, sc->sc_key, sizeof(sc->sc_key));
 		carp_hmac_prepare(sc);
 	}
-	if (sc->sc_state != INIT &&
+	if (sc->sc_state != INIT && sc->sc_state != SUPPRESS &&
 	    carpr->carpr_state != sc->sc_state) {
 		switch (carpr->carpr_state) {
 		case BACKUP:
@@ -2157,7 +2160,7 @@
 #ifdef INET6
 		callout_stop(&sc->sc_md6_tmo);
 #endif
-		carp_set_state(sc, INIT, "hardware interface down");
+		carp_set_state(sc, SUPPRESS, "hardware interface down");
 		carp_setrun(sc, 0);
 		if (!sc->sc_suppress)
 			carp_demote_adj(V_carp_ifdown_adj, "interface down");