diff --git a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py
index d0663152f..f7a26a23c 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py
@@ -3142,13 +3142,13 @@ class LinuxHost():
         """Enable the ethernet interface.
         """
 
-        self.bash(f'ifconfig {self.ETH_DEV} up')
+        self.bash(f'ip link set {self.ETH_DEV} up')
 
     def disable_ether(self):
         """Disable the ethernet interface.
         """
 
-        self.bash(f'ifconfig {self.ETH_DEV} down')
+        self.bash(f'ip link set {self.ETH_DEV} down')
 
     def get_ether_addrs(self):
         output = self.bash(f'ip -6 addr list dev {self.ETH_DEV}')