diff --git a/dhcp6.c b/dhcp6.c
index 633925d7..3a7f02c9 100644
--- a/dhcp6.c
+++ b/dhcp6.c
@@ -2473,7 +2473,7 @@ dhcp6_delegate_prefix(struct interface *ifp)
 	ifo = ifp->options;
 	state = D6_STATE(ifp);
 
-	/* Try to load configured interfaces for delegation that do not exist */
+	/* Ensure we have all interfaces */
 	for (i = 0; i < ifo->ia_len; i++) {
 		ia = &ifo->ia[i];
 		for (j = 0; j < ia->sla_len; j++) {
@@ -2482,21 +2482,19 @@ dhcp6_delegate_prefix(struct interface *ifp)
 				if (strcmp(sla->ifname, ia->sla[j].ifname) == 0)
 					break;
 			if (j >= i &&
-			    if_find(ifp->ctx->ifaces, sla->ifname) == NULL)
-			{
-				logger(ifp->ctx, LOG_INFO,
-				    "%s: loading for delegation", sla->ifname);
-				if (dhcpcd_handleinterface(ifp->ctx, 2,
-				    sla->ifname) == -1)
-					logger(ifp->ctx, LOG_ERR,
-					    "%s: interface does not exist"
-					    " for delegation",
-					    sla->ifname);
-			}
+			    ((ifd = if_find(ifp->ctx->ifaces,
+			        sla->ifname)) == NULL ||
+			    !ifd->active))
+				logger(ifp->ctx, LOG_ERR,
+				    "%s: interface does not exist"
+				    " for delegation",
+				    sla->ifname);
 		}
 	}
 
 	TAILQ_FOREACH(ifd, ifp->ctx->ifaces, next) {
+		if (!ifd->active)
+			continue;
 		k = 0;
 		carrier_warned = abrt = 0;
 		TAILQ_FOREACH(ap, &state->addrs, next) {