diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/boot/networkd.nix b/nixos/modules/system/boot/networkd.nix
index eea10613ea58..74d17cf9787e 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/boot/networkd.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/boot/networkd.nix
@@ -712,6 +712,9 @@ in
     systemd.services.systemd-networkd = {
       wantedBy = [ "multi-user.target" ];
       restartTriggers = map (f: f.source) (unitFiles);
+      # prevent race condition with interface renaming (#39069)
+      requires = [ "systemd-udev-settle.service" ];
+      after = [ "systemd-udev-settle.service" ];
     };
 
     systemd.services.systemd-networkd-wait-online = {