diff --git a/sys/netlink/route/iface_drivers.c b/sys/netlink/route/iface_drivers.c
--- a/sys/netlink/route/iface_drivers.c
+++ b/sys/netlink/route/iface_drivers.c
@@ -82,9 +82,12 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	if ((lattrs->ifi_change & IFF_UP) && (lattrs->ifi_flags & IFF_UP) == 0) {
-		/* Request to down the interface */
-		if_down(ifp);
+	if ((lattrs->ifi_change & IFF_UP) != 0 || lattrs->ifi_change == 0) {
+		/* Request to up or down the interface */
+		if (lattrs->ifi_flags & IFF_UP)
+			if_up(ifp);
+		else
+			if_down(ifp);
 	}
 
 	if (lattrs->ifla_mtu > 0) {
@@ -97,7 +100,8 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (lattrs->ifi_change & IFF_PROMISC) {
+	if ((lattrs->ifi_change & IFF_PROMISC) != 0 ||
+	    lattrs->ifi_change == 0) {
 		error = ifpromisc(ifp, lattrs->ifi_flags & IFF_PROMISC);
 		if (error != 0) {
 			nlmsg_report_err_msg(npt, "unable to set promisc");