diff --git a/zebra/if_netlink.c b/zebra/if_netlink.c
index db8ee3236c..22be153057 100644
--- a/zebra/if_netlink.c
+++ b/zebra/if_netlink.c
@@ -1876,6 +1876,7 @@ int netlink_link_change(struct nlmsghdr *h, ns_id_t ns_id, int startup)
 		} else {
 			bool was_bridge_slave, was_bond_slave;
 			uint8_t chgflags = ZEBRA_BRIDGE_NO_ACTION;
+			zif = ifp->info;
 
 			/* Interface update. */
 			if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_KERNEL)
@@ -1909,9 +1910,20 @@ int netlink_link_change(struct nlmsghdr *h, ns_id_t ns_id, int startup)
 				netlink_to_zebra_link_type(ifi->ifi_type);
 			netlink_interface_update_hw_addr(tb, ifp);
 
+			if (tb[IFLA_PROTO_DOWN]) {
+				uint8_t protodown;
+
+				protodown = *(uint8_t *)RTA_DATA(
+					tb[IFLA_PROTO_DOWN]);
+				netlink_proc_dplane_if_protodown(zif,
+								 !!protodown);
+			}
+
 			if (if_is_no_ptm_operative(ifp)) {
 				ifp->flags = ifi->ifi_flags & 0x0000fffff;
-				if (!if_is_no_ptm_operative(ifp)) {
+				if (!if_is_no_ptm_operative(ifp) ||
+				    CHECK_FLAG(zif->flags,
+					       ZIF_FLAG_PROTODOWN)) {
 					if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_KERNEL)
 						zlog_debug(
 							"Intf %s(%u) has gone DOWN",
@@ -1956,7 +1968,9 @@ int netlink_link_change(struct nlmsghdr *h, ns_id_t ns_id, int startup)
 				}
 			} else {
 				ifp->flags = ifi->ifi_flags & 0x0000fffff;
-				if (if_is_operative(ifp)) {
+				if (if_is_operative(ifp) &&
+				    !CHECK_FLAG(zif->flags,
+						ZIF_FLAG_PROTODOWN)) {
 					if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_KERNEL)
 						zlog_debug(
 							"Intf %s(%u) has come UP",
@@ -1990,15 +2004,6 @@ int netlink_link_change(struct nlmsghdr *h, ns_id_t ns_id, int startup)
 			else if (IS_ZEBRA_IF_BOND_SLAVE(ifp) || was_bond_slave)
 				zebra_l2if_update_bond_slave(ifp, bond_ifindex,
 							     !!bypass);
-
-			if (tb[IFLA_PROTO_DOWN]) {
-				uint8_t protodown;
-
-				protodown = *(uint8_t *)RTA_DATA(
-					tb[IFLA_PROTO_DOWN]);
-				netlink_proc_dplane_if_protodown(ifp->info,
-								 !!protodown);
-			}
 		}
 
 		zif = ifp->info;