diff --git a/include/net.h b/include/net.h
index 6912a55..509d1b3 100644
--- a/include/net.h
+++ b/include/net.h
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@
 int eth_register(struct eth_device* dev);    /* Register network device		*/
 void eth_unregister(struct eth_device* dev); /* Unregister network device	*/
 int eth_set_ethaddr(struct eth_device *edev, const char *ethaddr);
-
+int eth_open(struct eth_device *edev);
+void eth_close(struct eth_device *edev);
 int eth_send(struct eth_device *edev, void *packet, int length);	   /* Send a packet		*/
 int eth_rx(void);			/* Check for received packets	*/
 
diff --git a/net/dhcp.c b/net/dhcp.c
index 670a6a6..a27fa89 100644
--- a/net/dhcp.c
+++ b/net/dhcp.c
@@ -609,6 +609,10 @@
 	struct dhcp_result *res;
 	int ret;
 
+	ret = eth_open(edev);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+
 	ret = dhcp_request(edev, param, &res);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
diff --git a/net/eth.c b/net/eth.c
index 53d24ba..4a8a7a8 100644
--- a/net/eth.c
+++ b/net/eth.c
@@ -211,33 +211,12 @@
 	return edev->phydev->link ? 0 : -ENETDOWN;
 }
 
-/*
- * Check if we have a current ethernet device and
- * eventually open it if we have to.
- */
-static int eth_check_open(struct eth_device *edev)
-{
-	int ret;
-
-	if (edev->active)
-		return 0;
-
-	ret = edev->open(edev);
-	if (ret)
-		return ret;
-
-	edev->active = 1;
-
-	return eth_carrier_check(edev, 1);
-}
-
 int eth_send(struct eth_device *edev, void *packet, int length)
 {
 	int ret;
 
-	ret = eth_check_open(edev);
-	if (ret)
-		return ret;
+	if (!edev->active)
+		return -ENETDOWN;
 
 	ret = eth_carrier_check(edev, 0);
 	if (ret)
@@ -252,10 +231,6 @@
 {
 	int ret;
 
-	ret = eth_check_open(edev);
-	if (ret)
-		return ret;
-
 	ret = eth_carrier_check(edev, 0);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
@@ -422,6 +397,32 @@
 	return 0;
 }
 
+int eth_open(struct eth_device *edev)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	if (edev->active)
+		return 0;
+
+	ret = edev->open(edev);
+	if (!ret)
+		edev->active = 1;
+
+	eth_carrier_check(edev, 1);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+void eth_close(struct eth_device *edev)
+{
+	if (!edev->active)
+		return;
+
+	edev->halt(edev);
+
+	edev->active = 0;
+}
+
 void eth_unregister(struct eth_device *edev)
 {
 	if (edev->active)
diff --git a/net/ifup.c b/net/ifup.c
index d550f82..e5e8ef2 100644
--- a/net/ifup.c
+++ b/net/ifup.c
@@ -214,6 +214,10 @@
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
+	ret = eth_open(edev);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+
 	if (edev->global_mode == ETH_MODE_DHCP) {
 		if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_NET_DHCP)) {
 			ret = dhcp(edev, NULL);