diff --git a/src/conky.cc b/src/conky.cc
index b088ed43..b924c854 100644
--- a/src/conky.cc
+++ b/src/conky.cc
@@ -183,7 +183,6 @@ double update_interval_bat;
 void *global_cpu = NULL;
 static conky::range_config_setting<unsigned int> max_text_width("max_text_width", 0,
 											std::numeric_limits<unsigned int>::max(), 0, true);
-int ifup_strictness = IFUP_UP;
 
 #if defined(__FreeBSD__) || defined(__FreeBSD_kernel__)
 extern kvm_t *kd;
@@ -3023,22 +3022,6 @@ char load_config_file(const char *f)
 			}
 		}
 #endif
-		CONF("if_up_strictness") {
-			if (!value) {
-				NORM_ERR("incorrect if_up_strictness value, defaulting to 'up'");
-				ifup_strictness = IFUP_UP;
-			} else if (strcasecmp(value, "up") == EQUAL) {
-				ifup_strictness = IFUP_UP;
-			} else if (strcasecmp(value, "link") == EQUAL) {
-				ifup_strictness = IFUP_LINK;
-			} else if (strcasecmp(value, "address") == EQUAL) {
-				ifup_strictness = IFUP_ADDR;
-			} else {
-				NORM_ERR("incorrect if_up_strictness value, defaulting to 'up'");
-				ifup_strictness = IFUP_UP;
-			}
-		}
-
 		CONF("temperature_unit") {
 			if (!value) {
 				NORM_ERR("config option 'temperature_unit' needs an argument, either 'celsius' or 'fahrenheit'");
diff --git a/src/conky.h b/src/conky.h
index 5294aa55..87d31171 100644
--- a/src/conky.h
+++ b/src/conky.h
@@ -275,15 +275,6 @@ extern struct information info;
 /* defined in conky.c */
 extern double current_update_time, last_update_time, update_interval;
 
-/* if_up strictness selector
- * needed by conky.c and linux.c (and potentially others) */
-enum _ifup_strictness {
-	IFUP_UP,
-	IFUP_LINK,
-	IFUP_ADDR
-};
-extern int ifup_strictness;
-
 extern conky::range_config_setting<char>  stippled_borders;
 
 void set_current_text_color(long colour);
diff --git a/src/net_stat.cc b/src/net_stat.cc
index aceae345..d95ab96f 100644
--- a/src/net_stat.cc
+++ b/src/net_stat.cc
@@ -43,6 +43,22 @@
 
 /* network interface stuff */
 
+enum if_up_strictness_ {
+	IFUP_UP,
+	IFUP_LINK,
+	IFUP_ADDR
+};
+
+template<>
+conky::lua_traits<if_up_strictness_>::Map conky::lua_traits<if_up_strictness_>::map = {
+	{ "up",      IFUP_UP },
+	{ "link",    IFUP_LINK },
+	{ "address", IFUP_ADDR }
+};
+
+static conky::simple_config_setting<if_up_strictness_> if_up_strictness("if_up_strictness",
+																		IFUP_UP, true);
+
 struct net_stat netstats[MAX_NET_INTERFACES];
 
 struct net_stat *get_net_stat(const char *dev, void *free_at_crash1, void *free_at_crash2)
@@ -378,12 +394,12 @@ int interface_up(struct text_object *obj)
 
 	if (!(ifr.ifr_flags & IFF_UP)) /* iface is not up */
 		goto END_FALSE;
-	if (ifup_strictness == IFUP_UP)
+	if (if_up_strictness.get(*state) == IFUP_UP)
 		goto END_TRUE;
 
 	if (!(ifr.ifr_flags & IFF_RUNNING))
 		goto END_FALSE;
-	if (ifup_strictness == IFUP_LINK)
+	if (if_up_strictness.get(*state) == IFUP_LINK)
 		goto END_TRUE;
 
 	if (ioctl(fd, SIOCGIFADDR, &ifr)) {