Thanks, but this is not exactly the same. It deletes the configuration. If you do this, there is no way to enable it again. You have to recreate the configuration (IP, mask, gateway). And I'm trying to avoid it.
The above is the only solution I have found. It does add extra work when you want to bring the IP interface back up.
It would be nice to have the option of disabling the interface and simply enabling it down the road. Are there any plans to make that available in the future.