diff --git a/src/libs/compat/freebsd_network/device.c b/src/libs/compat/freebsd_network/device.c
index 520e44e517..3ab108f5a8 100644
--- a/src/libs/compat/freebsd_network/device.c
+++ b/src/libs/compat/freebsd_network/device.c
@@ -136,14 +136,14 @@ compat_open(const char *name, uint32 flags, void **cookie)
 		struct ifnet *ifp = dev->ifp;
 		struct ifreq ifr;
 
-		ifp->if_flags = 0;
+		ifp->if_flags &= ~IFF_UP;
 		ifp->if_ioctl(ifp, SIOCSIFFLAGS, NULL);
 
 		memset(&ifr, 0, sizeof(ifr));
 		ifr.ifr_media = IFM_MAKEWORD(IFM_ETHER, IFM_AUTO, 0, 0);
 		ifp->if_ioctl(ifp, SIOCSIFMEDIA, (caddr_t)&ifr);
 
-		ifp->if_flags = IFF_UP;
+		ifp->if_flags |= IFF_UP;
 		ifp->if_ioctl(ifp, SIOCSIFFLAGS, NULL);
 	}