diff --git a/ip/ip.c b/ip/ip.c
index 3d993b9e..0cf743f7 100644
--- a/ip/ip.c
+++ b/ip/ip.c
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ static int batch(const char *name)
 	char *line = NULL;
 	size_t len = 0;
 	int ret = EXIT_SUCCESS;
+	int orig_family = preferred_family;
 
 	batch_mode = 1;
 
@@ -140,6 +141,8 @@ static int batch(const char *name)
 		char *largv[100];
 		int largc;
 
+		preferred_family = orig_family;
+
 		largc = makeargs(line, largv, 100);
 		if (largc == 0)
 			continue;	/* blank line */