diff --git a/example_link_setdown_test.go b/example_link_setdown_test.go
index dfdd13b..e5bc0b6 100644
--- a/example_link_setdown_test.go
+++ b/example_link_setdown_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func Example_setLinkDown() {
 
 	// Set the interface operationally Down
 	err = conn.Link.Set(&rtnetlink.LinkMessage{
-		Family: msg.Family,
+		Family: 0x0,
 		Type:   msg.Type,
 		Index:  uint32(iface.Index),
 		Flags:  0x0,
diff --git a/example_link_sethwaddr_test.go b/example_link_sethwaddr_test.go
index 28c7238..acc25b9 100644
--- a/example_link_sethwaddr_test.go
+++ b/example_link_sethwaddr_test.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func Example_setLinkHWAddr() {
 
 	// Set the hw address of the interfaces
 	err = conn.Link.Set(&rtnetlink.LinkMessage{
-		Family: msg.Family,
+		Family: 0x0,
 		Type:   msg.Type,
 		Index:  uint32(iface.Index),
 		Flags:  msg.Flags,
diff --git a/example_link_setup_test.go b/example_link_setup_test.go
index 2cb8242..acb99cc 100644
--- a/example_link_setup_test.go
+++ b/example_link_setup_test.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func Example_setLinkUp() {
 
 	// Set the interface operationally UP
 	err = conn.Link.Set(&rtnetlink.LinkMessage{
-		Family: msg.Family,
+		Family: unix.AF_UNSPEC,
 		Type:   msg.Type,
 		Index:  uint32(iface.Index),
 		Flags:  unix.IFF_UP,
diff --git a/rtnl/link.go b/rtnl/link.go
index 22654b4..1b96feb 100644
--- a/rtnl/link.go
+++ b/rtnl/link.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func (c *Conn) LinkUp(ifc *net.Interface) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	tx := &rtnetlink.LinkMessage{
-		Family: rx.Family,
+		Family: unix.AF_UNSPEC,
 		Type:   rx.Type,
 		Index:  uint32(ifc.Index),
 		Flags:  unix.IFF_UP,
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func (c *Conn) LinkDown(ifc *net.Interface) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	tx := &rtnetlink.LinkMessage{
-		Family: rx.Family,
+		Family: unix.AF_UNSPEC,
 		Type:   rx.Type,
 		Index:  uint32(ifc.Index),
 		Flags:  0,