diff --git a/virtcontainers/api.go b/virtcontainers/api.go
index 039dc2e0c8..59070d30ab 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/api.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/api.go
@@ -264,16 +264,11 @@ func StopSandbox(ctx context.Context, sandboxID string) (VCSandbox, error) {
 	defer s.releaseStatelessSandbox()
 
 	// Stop it.
-	err = s.stop()
+	err = s.Stop()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// Remove the network.
-	if err := s.removeNetwork(); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	return s, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/virtcontainers/interfaces.go b/virtcontainers/interfaces.go
index 083d23a14a..5b132a4765 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/interfaces.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/interfaces.go
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ type VCSandbox interface {
 	SetAnnotations(annotations map[string]string) error
 
 	Start() error
+	Stop() error
 	Pause() error
 	Resume() error
 	Release() error
diff --git a/virtcontainers/pkg/vcmock/sandbox.go b/virtcontainers/pkg/vcmock/sandbox.go
index 2350207219..d0fd57f0e1 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/pkg/vcmock/sandbox.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/pkg/vcmock/sandbox.go
@@ -72,6 +72,11 @@ func (s *Sandbox) Start() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// Stop implements the VCSandbox function of the same name.
+func (s *Sandbox) Stop() error {
+	return nil
+}
+
 // Pause implements the VCSandbox function of the same name.
 func (s *Sandbox) Pause() error {
 	return nil
diff --git a/virtcontainers/sandbox.go b/virtcontainers/sandbox.go
index 2899418955..e099d8e3a5 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/sandbox.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/sandbox.go
@@ -1464,9 +1464,9 @@ func (s *Sandbox) Start() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// stop stops a sandbox. The containers that are making the sandbox
+// Stop stops a sandbox. The containers that are making the sandbox
 // will be destroyed.
-func (s *Sandbox) stop() error {
+func (s *Sandbox) Stop() error {
 	span, _ := s.trace("stop")
 	defer span.Finish()
 
@@ -1489,7 +1489,12 @@ func (s *Sandbox) stop() error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	return s.setSandboxState(StateStopped)
+	if err := s.setSandboxState(StateStopped); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Remove the network.
+	return s.removeNetwork()
 }
 
 // Pause pauses the sandbox