diff --git a/libnetwork/drivers/bridge/setup_ipv6_linux.go b/libnetwork/drivers/bridge/setup_ipv6_linux.go
index b0f3b0035d..4a07f72a11 100644
--- a/libnetwork/drivers/bridge/setup_ipv6_linux.go
+++ b/libnetwork/drivers/bridge/setup_ipv6_linux.go
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@ package bridge
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
+	"syscall"
 
 	"github.com/containerd/log"
 	"github.com/vishvananda/netlink"
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ func setupBridgeIPv6(config *networkConfiguration, i *bridgeInterface) error {
 	}
 
 	// Setting route to global IPv6 subnet
+	// TODO(robmry) - remove this? The bridge is 'down' at this point so I think it
+	//  always fails, and the route is added anyway when the bridge is set 'up'.
 	log.G(context.TODO()).Debugf("Adding route to IPv6 network %s via device %s", config.AddressIPv6.String(), config.BridgeName)
 	err = i.nlh.RouteAdd(&netlink.Route{
 		Scope:     netlink.SCOPE_UNIVERSE,
@@ -46,7 +50,11 @@ func setupBridgeIPv6(config *networkConfiguration, i *bridgeInterface) error {
 		Dst:       config.AddressIPv6,
 	})
 	if err != nil && !os.IsExist(err) {
-		log.G(context.TODO()).Errorf("Could not add route to IPv6 network %s via device %s: %s", config.AddressIPv6.String(), config.BridgeName, err)
+		if errors.Is(err, syscall.ENETDOWN) {
+			log.G(context.TODO()).Debugf("Could not add route to IPv6 network %s via device %s: %s", config.AddressIPv6.String(), config.BridgeName, err)
+		} else {
+			log.G(context.TODO()).Errorf("Could not add route to IPv6 network %s via device %s: %s", config.AddressIPv6.String(), config.BridgeName, err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	return nil