unsigned long last_link_up;
        unsigned long last_rx;
        unsigned long target_last_arp_rx[BOND_MAX_ARP_TARGETS];
-       s8     link;    /* one of BOND_LINK_XXXX */
+       s8     link;            /* one of BOND_LINK_XXXX */
+       s8     link_new_state;  /* one of BOND_LINK_XXXX */
        s8     new_link;
        u8     backup:1,   /* indicates backup slave. Value corresponds with
                              BOND_STATE_ACTIVE and BOND_STATE_BACKUP */
        return slave->inactive;
 }
 
-static inline void bond_set_slave_link_state(struct slave *slave, int state,
-                                            bool notify)
+static inline void bond_propose_link_state(struct slave *slave, int state)
+{
+       slave->link_new_state = state;
+}
+
+static inline void bond_commit_link_state(struct slave *slave, bool notify)
 {
-       if (slave->link == state)
+       if (slave->link == slave->link_new_state)
                return;
 
-       slave->link = state;
+       slave->link = slave->link_new_state;
        if (notify) {
                bond_queue_slave_event(slave);
                bond_lower_state_changed(slave);
        }
 }
 
+static inline void bond_set_slave_link_state(struct slave *slave, int state,
+                                            bool notify)
+{
+       bond_propose_link_state(slave, state);
+       bond_commit_link_state(slave, notify);
+}
+
 static inline void bond_slave_link_notify(struct bonding *bond)
 {
        struct list_head *iter;