diff --git a/target/linux/apm821xx/base-files/lib/preinit/05_set_iface_mac_apm821xx b/target/linux/apm821xx/base-files/lib/preinit/05_set_iface_mac_apm821xx
index 1a27930d24..a76d4a8dac 100644
--- a/target/linux/apm821xx/base-files/lib/preinit/05_set_iface_mac_apm821xx
+++ b/target/linux/apm821xx/base-files/lib/preinit/05_set_iface_mac_apm821xx
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ preinit_set_mac_address() {
 	case $(board_name) in
 		meraki,mr24|\
 		meraki,mx60)
-			mac_lan=$(mtd_get_mac_binary_ubi board-config 102)
-			[ -n "$mac_lan" ] && ifconfig eth0 hw ether "$mac_lan"
+			mac_lan=$(mtd_get_mac_binary_ubi board-config 0x66)
+			[ -n "$mac_lan" ] && ip link set eth0 address "$mac_lan"
 			;;
 	esac
 }
diff --git a/target/linux/ath25/base-files/lib/preinit/15_preinit_iface_atheros b/target/linux/ath25/base-files/lib/preinit/15_preinit_iface_atheros
index bd46cb9084..2b296539ac 100644
--- a/target/linux/ath25/base-files/lib/preinit/15_preinit_iface_atheros
+++ b/target/linux/ath25/base-files/lib/preinit/15_preinit_iface_atheros
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ preinit_ip() {
 			if [ -e "/sys/bus/mdio_bus/drivers/Infineon ADM6996/0:00" -o \
 			     -e "/sys/bus/mdio_bus/drivers/Marvell 88E6060/0:10" ]; then
 				vconfig set_name_type DEV_PLUS_VID_NO_PAD
-				ifconfig eth0 up
+				ip link set eth0 up
 				vconfig add eth0 1
 				ifname=eth0.1
 			else
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ preinit_ip() {
 		}
 	fi
 	[ -n "$pi_ifname" ] && grep -q "$pi_ifname" /proc/net/dev && {
-		ifconfig $pi_ifname $pi_ip netmask $pi_netmask broadcast $pi_broadcast up
+		ip addr add $pi_ip/$pi_netmask broadcast $pi_broadcast dev $pi_ifname
+		ip link set $pi_ifname up
 	}
 }
 
@@ -28,8 +29,8 @@ preinit_ip_deconfig() {
 	if [ -e "/sys/bus/mdio_bus/drivers/Infineon ADM6996/0:00" -o \
 	     -e "/sys/bus/mdio_bus/drivers/Marvell 88E6060/0:10" ]; then
 		vconfig rem eth0.1 2>/dev/null
-		ifconfig $pi_ifname down
+		ip link set $pi_ifname down
 	elif [ -n "$pi_ifname" ]; then
-		ifconfig $pi_ifname 0.0.0.0
+		ip -4 addr flush dev $pi_ifname
 	fi
 }
diff --git a/target/linux/mediatek/base-files/lib/preinit/05_set_preinit_iface b/target/linux/mediatek/base-files/lib/preinit/05_set_preinit_iface
index eb0bed8607..78ec426287 100644
--- a/target/linux/mediatek/base-files/lib/preinit/05_set_preinit_iface
+++ b/target/linux/mediatek/base-files/lib/preinit/05_set_preinit_iface
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 set_preinit_iface() {
-	ifconfig eth0 up
+	ip link set eth0 up
 	ifname=lan1
 }
 
diff --git a/target/linux/sunxi/base-files/lib/preinit/03_b53_hack.sh b/target/linux/sunxi/base-files/lib/preinit/03_b53_hack.sh
index 170cfd5b29..f24da4dd28 100755
--- a/target/linux/sunxi/base-files/lib/preinit/03_b53_hack.sh
+++ b/target/linux/sunxi/base-files/lib/preinit/03_b53_hack.sh
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ do_b53_hack() {
 	. /lib/functions.sh
 
 	# hack: enable switch on Lamobo R1 and reset counters
-	case "$(board_name)" in
+	case $(board_name) in
 	"lamobo,lamobo-r1")
-		ifconfig eth0 up
+		ip link set eth0 up
 		sleep 1
 		swconfig dev switch0 set reset 1
 		swconfig dev switch0 set reset_mib 1