diff --git a/pkg/ipam/ipam_linux.go b/pkg/ipam/ipam_linux.go
index 4c5af045..b1814667 100644
--- a/pkg/ipam/ipam_linux.go
+++ b/pkg/ipam/ipam_linux.go
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ import (
 
 const (
 	// Note: use slash as separator so we can have dots in interface name (VLANs)
-	DisableIPv6SysctlTemplate = "net/ipv6/conf/%s/disable_ipv6"
+	DisableIPv6SysctlTemplate    = "net/ipv6/conf/%s/disable_ipv6"
+	KeepAddrOnDownSysctlTemplate = "net/ipv6/conf/%s/keep_addr_on_down"
 )
 
 // ConfigureIface takes the result of IPAM plugin and
@@ -56,8 +57,8 @@ func ConfigureIface(ifName string, res *current.Result) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to add IP addr %v to %q: invalid interface index", ipc, ifName)
 		}
 
-		// Make sure sysctl "disable_ipv6" is 0 if we are about to add
-		// an IPv6 address to the interface
+		// Make sure sysctl "disable_ipv6" is 0 and "keep_addr_on_down" is 1
+		// if we are about to add an IPv6 address to the interface
 		if !hasEnabledIpv6 && ipc.Address.IP.To4() == nil {
 			// Enabled IPv6 for loopback "lo" and the interface
 			// being configured
@@ -80,6 +81,15 @@ func ConfigureIface(ifName string, res *current.Result) error {
 					return fmt.Errorf("failed to enable IPv6 for interface %q (%s=%s): %v", iface, ipv6SysctlValueName, value, err)
 				}
 			}
+
+			// Enable "keep_addr_on_down" for the interface being configured
+			// This prevents the kernel from removing the address when the interface is brought down
+			keepAddrOnDownSysctlValueName := fmt.Sprintf(KeepAddrOnDownSysctlTemplate, ifName)
+			_, err = sysctl.Sysctl(keepAddrOnDownSysctlValueName, "1")
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("failed to enable keep_addr_on_down for interface %q: %v", ifName, err)
+			}
+
 			hasEnabledIpv6 = true
 		}
 
diff --git a/pkg/ipam/ipam_linux_test.go b/pkg/ipam/ipam_linux_test.go
index 9afbcc1c..2de58c21 100644
--- a/pkg/ipam/ipam_linux_test.go
+++ b/pkg/ipam/ipam_linux_test.go
@@ -201,6 +201,49 @@ var _ = Describe("ConfigureIface", func() {
 		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
 	})
 
+	It("keeps IPV6 addresses after the interface is brought down", func() {
+		err := originalNS.Do(func(ns.NetNS) error {
+			defer GinkgoRecover()
+
+			By("Configuring the interface")
+
+			err := ConfigureIface(LINK_NAME, result)
+			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+
+			By("Verifying the IPV6 address is present")
+
+			link, err := netlinksafe.LinkByName(LINK_NAME)
+			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+			Expect(link.Attrs().Name).To(Equal(LINK_NAME))
+
+			v6addrs, err := netlinksafe.AddrList(link, syscall.AF_INET6)
+			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+			Expect(v6addrs).To(HaveLen(2))
+
+			var found bool
+			for _, a := range v6addrs {
+				if ipNetEqual(a.IPNet, ipv6) {
+					found = true
+					break
+				}
+			}
+			Expect(found).To(BeTrue())
+
+			By("Bringing the interface down")
+			err = netlink.LinkSetDown(link)
+			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+
+			By("Verifying the IPV6 address is still present")
+			v6addrs, err = netlinksafe.AddrList(link, syscall.AF_INET6)
+			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+			Expect(v6addrs).To(HaveLen(1))
+			Expect(ipNetEqual(v6addrs[0].IPNet, ipv6)).To(BeTrue())
+
+			return nil
+		})
+		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+	})
+
 	It("configures a link with routes using address gateways", func() {
 		result.Routes[0].GW = nil
 		result.Routes[1].GW = nil