diff --git a/lib/vagrant/guest/debian.rb b/lib/vagrant/guest/debian.rb
index ca7158349..e3dbf9892 100644
--- a/lib/vagrant/guest/debian.rb
+++ b/lib/vagrant/guest/debian.rb
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ module Vagrant
         # each specifically, we avoid reconfiguring eth0 (the NAT interface) so
         # SSH never dies.
         interfaces.each do |interface|
-          vm.channel.sudo("/sbin/ifdown eth#{interface} 2> /dev/null")
+          vm.channel.sudo("/sbin/ifconfig eth#{interface} down 2> /dev/null")
         end
 
         vm.channel.sudo("cat /tmp/vagrant-network-entry >> /etc/network/interfaces")