diff --git a/networking/ifplugd.c b/networking/ifplugd.c
index b578f4c61..fef7a5ac9 100644
--- a/networking/ifplugd.c
+++ b/networking/ifplugd.c
@@ -289,8 +289,6 @@ static const struct {
 	{ "IFF_RUNNING"       , &detect_link_iff     },
 };
 
-
-
 static const char *strstatus(int status)
 {
 	if (status == IFSTATUS_ERR)
@@ -652,7 +650,6 @@ int ifplugd_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 	delay_time = 0;
 	while (1) {
 		int iface_status_old;
-		int iface_exists_old;
 
 		switch (bb_got_signal) {
 		case SIGINT:
@@ -678,12 +675,12 @@ int ifplugd_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 			goto exiting;
 		}
 
-		iface_status_old = iface_status;
-		iface_exists_old = G.iface_exists;
-
 		if ((opts & FLAG_MONITOR)
 		 && (netlink_pollfd[0].revents & POLLIN)
 		) {
+			int iface_exists_old;
+
+			iface_exists_old = G.iface_exists;
 			G.iface_exists = check_existence_through_netlink();
 			if (G.iface_exists < 0) /* error */
 				goto exiting;
@@ -696,6 +693,7 @@ int ifplugd_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 		}
 
 		/* note: if !G.iface_exists, returns DOWN */
+		iface_status_old = iface_status;
 		iface_status = detect_link();
 		if (iface_status == IFSTATUS_ERR) {
 			if (!(opts & FLAG_MONITOR))
@@ -709,7 +707,7 @@ int ifplugd_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 
 			if (delay_time) {
 				/* link restored its old status before
-				 * we run script. don't run the script: */
+				 * we ran script. don't run the script: */
 				delay_time = 0;
 			} else {
 				delay_time = monotonic_sec();
@@ -717,15 +715,19 @@ int ifplugd_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 					delay_time += G.delay_up;
 				if (iface_status == IFSTATUS_DOWN)
 					delay_time += G.delay_down;
-				if (delay_time == 0)
-					delay_time++;
+#if 0  /* if you are back in 1970... */
+				if (delay_time == 0) {
+					sleep(1);
+					delay_time = 1;
+				}
+#endif
 			}
 		}
 
 		if (delay_time && (int)(monotonic_sec() - delay_time) >= 0) {
-			delay_time = 0;
 			if (run_script(iface_status_str) != 0)
 				goto exiting;
+			delay_time = 0;
 		}
 	} /* while (1) */