diff --git a/lib.shs b/lib.shs
index b085df9..72282e1 100644
--- a/lib.shs
+++ b/lib.shs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ veth_to_bridge() {
 	ve_br_orig="ve_${mach}_${br_raw}"
 	ve_br="${ve_br_orig::15}"
 	test "$ve_br" != "$ve_br_orig" && warn "interface name $ve_br_orig shortened to $ve_br"
-	ip link show dev "$ve_br" >/dev/null && die "interface $ve_br already exists!"
+	ip link show dev "$ve_br" >/dev/null 2>&1 && die "interface $ve_br already exists!"
 	ip link add name "$ifname" type veth peer "$ve_br"
 	ip link set dev "$ve_br" master "$br"
 	ip link set dev "$ve_br" up
diff --git a/machines/iana/setup.sh b/machines/iana/setup.sh
index bb09af1..f8e1f79 100755
--- a/machines/iana/setup.sh
+++ b/machines/iana/setup.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 set -eu
 
 # typically: bring up the networks
+ip link set dev lo up
+
 ip addr add 100.100.0.1/29 dev vps_ve
-ip link set vps_ve up
+ip link set dev vps_ve up
 
diff --git a/machines/uo/setup.sh b/machines/uo/setup.sh
index 3d63561..136243c 100755
--- a/machines/uo/setup.sh
+++ b/machines/uo/setup.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 set -eu
 
 # typically: bring up the networks
+ip link set dev lo up
+
 ip addr add 100.100.0.2/29 dev up_ve
-ip link set up_ve up
+ip link set dev up_ve up