diff --git a/src/vnet/devices/virtio/vhost-user.c b/src/vnet/devices/virtio/vhost-user.c
index 2af96ee..4200ed8 100644
--- a/src/vnet/devices/virtio/vhost-user.c
+++ b/src/vnet/devices/virtio/vhost-user.c
@@ -2443,7 +2443,7 @@
 
   vui->admin_up = is_up;
 
-  if (is_up)
+  if (is_up && vui->is_up)
     vnet_hw_interface_set_flags (vnm, vui->hw_if_index,
 				 VNET_HW_INTERFACE_FLAG_LINK_UP);