--- a/networking/libiproute/iplink.c
+++ b/networking/libiproute/iplink.c
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ static int do_add_or_delete(char **argv,
 	}
 	xrtnl_open(&rth);
 	ll_init_map(&rth);
-	if (type_str) {
+	if (type_str && rtm == RTM_NEWLINK) {
 		struct rtattr *linkinfo = NLMSG_TAIL(&req.n);
 
 		addattr_l(&req.n, sizeof(req), IFLA_LINKINFO, NULL, 0);
