diff --git a/net/ifconfig.sh.Linux.in b/net/ifconfig.sh.Linux.in
index 80a0b987..9eaa7c56 100644
--- a/net/ifconfig.sh.Linux.in
+++ b/net/ifconfig.sh.Linux.in
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ _down()
 
 _exists()
 {
-	grep -Eq "^[[:space:]]*${IFACE}:" /proc/net/dev
+	[ -e /sys/class/net/"$IFACE" ]
 }
 
 _ifindex()
diff --git a/net/iproute2.sh b/net/iproute2.sh
index 09912bf4..e06152f8 100644
--- a/net/iproute2.sh
+++ b/net/iproute2.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ _down()
 
 _exists()
 {
-	grep -Eq "^[[:space:]]*${IFACE}:" /proc/net/dev
+	[ -e /sys/class/net/"$IFACE" ]
 }
 
 _ifindex()