diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/dhcp.c b/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/dhcp.c
index 064786ced..a312d2c07 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/dhcp.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/dhcp.c
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ dhcpwatch(int needconfig)
 				t = secs;
 			if(t >= conf.lease){
 				conf.lease = 0;
+				DEBUG("couldn't renew IP lease");
 				if(!noconfig){
 					ipunconfig();
 					needconfig = 1;
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/ipv6.c b/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/ipv6.c
index 09a0133fc..652814f12 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/ipv6.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/ipv6.c
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ recvra6on(Ipifc *ifc)
 		return 0;
 	else if(ifc->sendra6 > 0)
 		return IsRouter;
-	else if(ifc->recvra6 > 0)
+	else if(ifc->recvra6 > 0 || noconfig)
 		return IsHostRecv;
 	else
 		return IsHostNoRecv;
@@ -712,6 +712,7 @@ recvrahost(uchar buf[], int pktlen)
 			break;
 		}
 	}
+
 	issuebasera6(&conf);
 
 	/* remove expired default routes */
@@ -722,10 +723,11 @@ recvrahost(uchar buf[], int pktlen)
 		|| r->prefixlt != ~0UL && r->prefixlt < now-r->time
 		|| r->routerlt != ~0UL && r->routerlt < now-r->time
 		|| ipcmp(r->src, ra->src) == 0 && r->routerlt != 0 && conf.routerlt == 0){
+			DEBUG("purging RA from %I on %s; pfx %I %M",
+				r->src, conf.dev, r->laddr, r->mask);
 			if(validip(r->gaddr))
 				removedefroute(r->gaddr, conf.lladdr, r->laddr, r->mask);
 			*rr = r->next;
-			r->next = nil;
 			free(r);
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -774,7 +776,6 @@ recvrahost(uchar buf[], int pktlen)
 			&& ipcmp(r->laddr, conf.laddr) == 0){
 				seen = memcmp(r->hash, hash, SHA1dlen) == 0;
 				*rr = r->next;
-				r->next = nil;
 				break;
 			}
 		}
@@ -805,6 +806,9 @@ recvrahost(uchar buf[], int pktlen)
 			if(!seen)
 				warning("igoring bogus prefix from %I on %s; pfx %I %M",
 					ra->src, conf.dev, conf.v6pref, conf.mask);
+
+			/* keep it arround so we wont comlain again */
+			r->prefixlt = r->routerlt = ~0UL;
 			continue;
 		}
 
@@ -821,6 +825,9 @@ recvrahost(uchar buf[], int pktlen)
 		if(validip(conf.gaddr))
 			adddefroute(conf.gaddr, conf.lladdr, conf.laddr, conf.mask);
 
+		if(noconfig)
+			continue;
+
 		if(beprimary)
 			putndb();
 		refresh();
@@ -892,7 +899,7 @@ recvra6(void)
 			exits(nil);
 		}
 
-		if(recvra6on(ifc) == IsHostNoRecv){
+		if(recvra6on(ifc) == IsHostNoRecv || noconfig && sendrscnt < 0){
 			warning("recvra6: recvra off, quitting on %s", conf.dev);
 			if(sendrscnt >= 0)
 				rendezvous(recvra6, (void*)-1);
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/main.c b/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/main.c
index ed17f03ae..a35802048 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/main.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/ip/ipconfig/main.c
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 		if(myifc < 0)
 			sysfatal("interface not found for: %s", conf.dev);
-	} else {
+	} else if(!noconfig) {
 		/* open old interface */
 		binddevice();
 	}
@@ -484,6 +484,11 @@ doremove(void)
 {
 	if(!validip(conf.laddr))
 		sysfatal("remove requires an address");
+
+	DEBUG("removing address %I %M on %s", conf.laddr, conf.mask, conf.dev);
+	if(conf.cfd < 0)
+		return;
+
 	if(fprint(conf.cfd, "remove %I %M", conf.laddr, conf.mask) < 0)
 		warning("can't remove %I %M: %r", conf.laddr, conf.mask);
 }
@@ -491,6 +496,9 @@ doremove(void)
 static void
 dounbind(void)
 {
+	if(conf.cfd < 0)
+		return;
+
 	if(fprint(conf.cfd, "unbind") < 0)
 		warning("can't unbind %s: %r", conf.dev);
 }
@@ -589,11 +597,12 @@ ipunconfig(void)
 	if(!validip(conf.laddr))
 		return;
 
-	DEBUG("couldn't renew IP lease, releasing %I", conf.laddr);
-
 	if(!validip(conf.mask))
 		ipmove(conf.mask, defmask(conf.laddr));
 
+	if(validip(conf.gaddr))
+		removedefroute(conf.gaddr, conf.laddr, conf.laddr, conf.mask);
+
 	doremove();
 
 	ipmove(conf.laddr, IPnoaddr);
@@ -713,6 +722,9 @@ routectl(char *cmd, uchar *dst, uchar *mask, uchar *gate, uchar *ia, uchar *src,
 		ctl = "%s %I %M %I %I %I %M";
 	else
 		ctl = "%s %I %M %I %I";
+	DEBUG(ctl, cmd, dst, mask, gate, ia, src, smask);
+	if(conf.rfd < 0)
+		return;
 	fprint(conf.rfd, ctl, cmd, dst, mask, gate, ia, src, smask);
 }