diff --git a/automotive/can/1.0/default/libnetdevice/libnetdevice.cpp b/automotive/can/1.0/default/libnetdevice/libnetdevice.cpp
index f149c45..f8f102a 100644
--- a/automotive/can/1.0/default/libnetdevice/libnetdevice.cpp
+++ b/automotive/can/1.0/default/libnetdevice/libnetdevice.cpp
@@ -161,6 +161,8 @@
 }
 
 bool rename(std::string_view from, std::string_view to) {
+    if (!down(from)) return false;
+
     nl::MessageFactory<ifinfomsg> req(RTM_SETLINK);
     req.add(IFLA_IFNAME, to);