diff --git a/package/base-files/files/lib/network/config.sh b/package/base-files/files/lib/network/config.sh
index d0aa33d1a4..808463df52 100755
--- a/package/base-files/files/lib/network/config.sh
+++ b/package/base-files/files/lib/network/config.sh
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ prepare_interface() {
 	local iface="$1"
 	local config="$2"
 	local vifmac="$3"
+	local proto
 
 	# if we're called for the bridge interface itself, don't bother trying
 	# to create any interfaces here. The scripts have already done that, otherwise
@@ -91,9 +92,12 @@ prepare_interface() {
 	[ "br-$config" = "$iface" -o -e "$iface" ] && return 0;
 	
 	ifconfig "$iface" 2>/dev/null >/dev/null && {
-		# make sure the interface is removed from any existing bridge and deconfigured 
-		ifconfig "$iface" 0.0.0.0
+		config_get proto "$config" proto
+
+		# make sure the interface is removed from any existing bridge and deconfigured,
+		# (deconfigured only if the interface is not set to proto=none)
 		unbridge "$iface"
+		[ "$proto" = none ] || ifconfig "$iface" 0.0.0.0
 
 		# Change interface MAC address if requested
 		[ -n "$vifmac" ] && {
@@ -287,6 +291,11 @@ setup_interface() {
 			fi
 		;;
 	esac
+	[ "$proto" = none ] || {
+		for ifn in `ifconfig | grep "^$iface:" | awk '{print $1}'`; do
+			ifconfig "$ifn" down
+		done
+	}
 	config_set "$config" aliases ""
 	config_set "$config" alias_count 0
 	config_foreach setup_interface_alias alias "$config" "$iface"