diff --git a/tempest/common/utils/linux/remote_client.py b/tempest/common/utils/linux/remote_client.py
index 0caca00..c03cd6d 100644
--- a/tempest/common/utils/linux/remote_client.py
+++ b/tempest/common/utils/linux/remote_client.py
@@ -79,12 +79,6 @@
         cmd = 'sudo sh -c "echo \\"%s\\" >/dev/console"' % message
         return self.exec_command(cmd)
 
-    def set_mac_address(self, nic, address):
-        self.exec_command("sudo ip link set %s down" % nic)
-        cmd = "sudo ip link set dev {0} address {1}".format(nic, address)
-        self.exec_command(cmd)
-        self.exec_command("sudo ip link set %s up" % nic)
-
     def get_mac_address(self, nic=""):
         show_nic = "show {nic} ".format(nic=nic) if nic else ""
         cmd = "ip addr %s| awk '/ether/ {print $2}'" % show_nic
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_network_basic_ops.py b/tempest/scenario/test_network_basic_ops.py
index 91b863c..dec0ad0 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_network_basic_ops.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_network_basic_ops.py
@@ -834,7 +834,13 @@
         peer_address = peer['addresses'][self.new_net['name']][0]['addr']
         self.check_remote_connectivity(ssh_client, dest=peer_address,
                                        nic=spoof_nic, should_succeed=True)
-        ssh_client.set_mac_address(spoof_nic, spoof_mac)
+        # Set a mac address by making nic down temporary
+        cmd = ("sudo ip link set {nic} down;"
+               "sudo ip link set dev {nic} address {mac};"
+               "sudo ip link set {nic} up").format(nic=spoof_nic,
+                                                   mac=spoof_mac)
+        ssh_client.exec_command(cmd)
+
         new_mac = ssh_client.get_mac_address(nic=spoof_nic)
         self.assertEqual(spoof_mac, new_mac)
         self.check_remote_connectivity(ssh_client, dest=peer_address,