diff --git a/roles/interfaces/files/networking.service b/roles/interfaces/files/networking.service
index 49fcf78..4244728 100644
--- a/roles/interfaces/files/networking.service
+++ b/roles/interfaces/files/networking.service
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [Unit]
-Description=ifupdown2 networking initialization
+Description=Network initialization
 Documentation=man:interfaces(5) man:ifup(8) man:ifdown(8)
 DefaultDependencies=no
 Before=network.target shutdown.target network-online.target
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ Type=oneshot
 RemainAfterExit=yes
 SyslogIdentifier=networking
 TimeoutStopSec=30s
+EnvironmentFile=/etc/default/networking
 ExecStart=/usr/share/ifupdown2/sbin/start-networking start
 ExecStop=/usr/share/ifupdown2/sbin/start-networking stop
 ExecReload=/usr/share/ifupdown2/sbin/start-networking reload
diff --git a/roles/interfaces/tasks/main.yml b/roles/interfaces/tasks/main.yml
index 56de5fa..40f4e1f 100644
--- a/roles/interfaces/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/interfaces/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 ---
 
 - name: Install dependencies
-  apt: name=python-pkg-resources
+  apt:
+    name:
+    - bridge-utils
+    - python-pkg-resources
 
+# work-around to get a version new enough not to screw up forwarding setting on all interfaces
 - name: Install ifupdown2
-  apt: name=ifupdown2 state=latest
+  apt: deb=http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/pool/main/i/ifupdown2/ifupdown2_3.0.0-1_all.deb
 
 - name: Uninstall ifupdown
   apt: name=ifupdown state=absent