diff --git a/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/datalink.cpp b/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/datalink.cpp
index 06dcc24eda..e2670390c9 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/datalink.cpp
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/datalink.cpp
@@ -539,7 +539,6 @@ interface_protocol_down(net_datalink_protocol *_protocol)
 	interface_protocol *protocol = (interface_protocol *)_protocol;
 	net_device_interface *deviceInterface =
 		((net_interface_private *)protocol->interface)->device_interface;
-	net_device *device = protocol->device;
 
 	// TODO: locking!
 	if (deviceInterface->up_count == 0)
@@ -550,12 +549,7 @@ interface_protocol_down(net_datalink_protocol *_protocol)
 	if (deviceInterface->up_count > 0)
 		return;
 
-	device->flags &= ~IFF_UP;
-	protocol->device_module->down(protocol->device);
-
-	// make sure the reader thread is gone before shutting down the interface
-	status_t status;
-	wait_for_thread(deviceInterface->reader_thread, &status);
+	down_device_interface(deviceInterface);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/interfaces.cpp b/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/interfaces.cpp
index 08e473d4e6..11537a9f20 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/interfaces.cpp
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/interfaces.cpp
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ delete_interface(net_interface_private *interface)
 	if ((interface->flags & IFF_UP) != 0) {
 		// the interface is still up - we need to change that before deleting it
 		interface->flags &= ~IFF_UP;
-		interface->device_interface->module->down(interface->device_interface->device);
+		down_device_interface(interface->device_interface);
 	}
 
 	put_device_interface(interface->device_interface);
@@ -398,6 +398,20 @@ get_device_interface(const char *name)
 }
 
 
+void
+down_device_interface(net_device_interface *interface)
+{
+	net_device *device = interface->device;
+
+	device->flags &= ~IFF_UP;
+	interface->module->down(device);
+
+	// make sure the reader thread is gone before shutting down the interface
+	status_t status;
+	wait_for_thread(interface->reader_thread, &status);
+}
+
+
 //	#pragma mark - devices
 
 
diff --git a/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/interfaces.h b/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/interfaces.h
index f63f0e5328..d780549357 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/interfaces.h
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/network/stack/interfaces.h
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ status_t list_device_interfaces(void *buffer, size_t size);
 void put_device_interface(struct net_device_interface *interface);
 struct net_device_interface *get_device_interface(uint32 index);
 struct net_device_interface *get_device_interface(const char *name);
+void down_device_interface(net_device_interface *interface);
 
 // devices
 status_t unregister_device_deframer(net_device *device);