diff --git a/src/gb/gprs_ns2_fr.c b/src/gb/gprs_ns2_fr.c
index 1b0ec00..e972a34 100644
--- a/src/gb/gprs_ns2_fr.c
+++ b/src/gb/gprs_ns2_fr.c
@@ -447,6 +447,13 @@
 	memset(&req, 0, sizeof req);
 	OSMO_STRLCPY_ARRAY(req.ifr_name, netif);
 
+	rc = ioctl(sock, SIOCGIFFLAGS, &req);
+	if (rc < 0)
+		return rc;
+
+	if ((req.ifr_flags & IFF_UP) == up)
+		return 0;
+
 	if (up)
 		req.ifr_flags |= IFF_UP;