diff --git a/doc.ja/src/sgml/watchdog.sgml b/doc.ja/src/sgml/watchdog.sgml
index 5365651..88c12f5 100644
--- a/doc.ja/src/sgml/watchdog.sgml
+++ b/doc.ja/src/sgml/watchdog.sgml
@@ -303,9 +303,13 @@
       will use to switch the virtual IP on the system.
       Set only the path of the directory containing the binary,
       such as <literal>"/sbin"</literal> or such directory.
+      If <xref linkend="guc-if-up-cmd"> or <xref linkend="guc-if-down-cmd"> starts with "/",
+      this parameter will be ignored.
       -->
       <productname>Pgpool-II</productname>が仮想IPを切り替えるために使用するコマンドへのパスを指定します。
-      <literal>"/bin"</literal>のようにパスだけを指定します。
+      <literal>"/sbin"</literal>のようにパスだけを指定します。
+      <varname>if_up_cmd</varname>や<varname>if_down_cmd</varname>に指定したコマンドが"/"で始まる場合、
+      フルパスとみなし<varname>if_cmd_path</varname>の設定を無視します。
      </para>
      <para>
       <!--
@@ -330,12 +334,21 @@
       <!--
       Specifies the command to bring up the virtual IP.
       Set the command and parameters such as
-      <command>"ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0"</command>
+      <literal>"ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0"</literal>.
+      Since root privilege is required to execute this command,
+      use <command>setuid</command> on <command>ip</command> command or
+      allow Pgpool-II startup user (<literal>postgres</literal> user by default)
+      to run <command>sudo</command> command without a password, and specify it such as
+      <literal>"/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0"</literal>.
       <literal>$_IP_$</literal> will get replaced by the IP address
       specified in the <xref linkend="guc-delegate-IP">.
       -->
       仮想IPを起動するために実行するコマンドを指定します。
       <command>"ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0"</command>のようにコマンドとパラメータを指定します。
+      こをコマンドを実行するには<literal>root</literal>権限が必要となりますので、一般ユーザが実行できるように
+      <command>ip</command>コマンドに<command>setuid</command>を設定するか、
+      <productname>Pgpool-II</productname>起動ユーザ(デフォルトでは<literal>postgres</literal>)がパスワードなしに<command>sudo</command>を実行できるように設定し、
+      <command>sudo</command>を介したコマンドを<literal>"/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0"</literal>のように指定します。
       <literal>$_IP_$</literal>は<xref linkend="guc-delegate-IP">で指定されたIPアドレスに置換されます。
      </para>
      <para>
@@ -359,9 +372,21 @@
       Specifies the command to bring down the virtual IP.
       Set the command and parameters such as
       <literal>"ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0"</literal>.
+      Since root privilege is required to execute this command,
+      use <command>setuid</command> on <command>ip</command> command or
+      allow Pgpool-II startup user (<literal>postgres</literal> user by default)
+      to run <command>sudo</command> command without a password, and specify it such as
+      <literal>"/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0"</literal>.
+      <literal>$_IP_$</literal> will get replaced by the IP address
+      specified in the <xref linkend="guc-delegate-IP">.
       -->
       仮想IPを停止するために実行するコマンドを指定します。
       <literal>"ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0"</literal>のようにコマンドとパラメータを指定します。
+      こをコマンドを実行するにはroot権限が必要となりますので、一般ユーザが実行できるように
+      <command>ip</command>コマンドに<command>setuid</command>を設定するか、
+      <productname>Pgpool-II</productname>起動ユーザ(デフォルトでは<literal>postgres</literal>)がパスワードなしに<command>sudo</command>を実行できるように設定し、
+      <command>sudo</command>を介したコマンドを<literal>"/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0"</literal>のように指定します。
+      <literal>$_IP_$</literal>は<xref linkend="guc-delegate-IP">で指定されたIPアドレスに置換されます。
      </para>
      <para>
       <!--
@@ -388,9 +413,13 @@
       will use to send the ARP requests after the virtual IP switch.
       Set only the path of the directory containing the binary,
       such as <literal>"/usr/sbin"</literal> or such directory.
+      If <xref linkend="guc-arping-cmd"> starts with "/",
+      this parameter will be ignored.
       -->
       IPアドレス切り替え後に<productname>Pgpool-II</productname>がARPリクエストを送信するコマンドへのパス指定します。
-      <literal>"/usr/sbin"</literal>のようにパスだけを指定します。 
+      <literal>"/usr/sbin"</literal>のようにパスだけを指定します。
+      <varname>arping_cmd</varname>に指定したコマンドが"/"で始まる場合、
+      フルパスとみなし<varname>arping_path</varname>の設定を無視します。
      </para>
      <para>
       <!--
@@ -416,13 +445,22 @@
       Specifies the command to use for sending the ARP requests
       after the virtual IP switch.
       Set the command and parameters such as
-      <literal>"arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1"</literal>.
+      <literal>"arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0"</literal>.
+      Since root privilege is required to execute this command,
+      use <command>setuid</command> on <command>ip</command> command or
+      allow Pgpool-II startup user (<literal>postgres</literal> user by default)
+      to run <command>sudo</command> command without a password, and specify it such as
+      <literal>"/usr/bin/sudo /usr/sbin/arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0"</literal>.
       <literal>$_IP_$</literal> will get replaced by
       the IP address specified in the <varname>delegate_IP</varname>.
       -->
       IPアドレス切り替え後にARPリクエストを送信するコマンドです。
-      <literal>"arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1"</literal>のようにコマンドとパラメータを指定します。
-      <literal>$_IP_$</literal>は<varname>delegate_IP</varname>で指定されたIPアドレスに置換されます。
+      <literal>"arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0"</literal>のようにコマンドとパラメータを指定します。
+      こをコマンドを実行するにはroot権限が必要となりますので、一般ユーザが実行できるように
+      <command>arping</command>コマンドに<literal>setuid</literal>を設定するか、
+      <productname>Pgpool-II</productname>起動ユーザ(デフォルトでは<literal>postgres</literal>ユーザ)がパスワードなしに<command>sudo</command>を実行できるように設定し、
+      <command>sudo</command>を介したコマンドを<literal>"/usr/bin/sudo /usr/sbin/arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0"</literal>のように設定します。
+      <literal>$_IP_$</literal>は<xref linkend="guc-delegate-IP">で指定されたIPアドレスに置換されます。
      </para>
      <para>
       <!--
diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/watchdog.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/watchdog.sgml
index f8581fb..f0d3d49 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/watchdog.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/watchdog.sgml
@@ -199,6 +199,8 @@
       will use to switch the virtual IP on the system.
       Set only the path of the directory containing the binary,
       such as <literal>"/sbin"</literal> or such directory.
+      If <xref linkend="guc-if-up-cmd"> or <xref linkend="guc-if-down-cmd"> starts with "/",
+      this parameter will be ignored.
      </para>
      <para>
       This parameter can only be set at server start.
@@ -216,7 +218,12 @@
      <para>
       Specifies the command to bring up the virtual IP.
       Set the command and parameters such as
-      <command>"ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0"</command>
+      <literal>"ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0"</literal>.
+      Since root privilege is required to execute this command,
+      use <command>setuid</command> on <command>ip</command> command or
+      allow <productname>Pgpool-II</productname> startup user (<literal>postgres</literal> user by default)
+      to run <command>sudo</command> command without a password, and specify it such as
+      <literal>"/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0"</literal>.
       <literal>$_IP_$</literal> will get replaced by the IP address
       specified in the <xref linkend="guc-delegate-IP">.
      </para>
@@ -237,6 +244,13 @@
       Specifies the command to bring down the virtual IP.
       Set the command and parameters such as
       <literal>"ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0"</literal>.
+      Since root privilege is required to execute this command,
+      use <command>setuid</command> on <command>ip</command> command or
+      allow <productname>Pgpool-II</productname> startup user (<literal>postgres</literal> user by default)
+      to run <command>sudo</command> command without a password, and specify it such as
+      <literal>"/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0"</literal>.
+      <literal>$_IP_$</literal> will get replaced by the IP address
+      specified in the <xref linkend="guc-delegate-IP">.
      </para>
      <para>
       This parameter can only be set at server start.
@@ -256,6 +270,8 @@
       will use to send the ARP requests after the virtual IP switch.
       Set only the path of the directory containing the binary,
       such as <literal>"/usr/sbin"</literal> or such directory.
+      If <xref linkend="guc-arping-cmd"> starts with "/",
+      this parameter will be ignored.
      </para>
      <para>
       This parameter can only be set at server start.
@@ -274,7 +290,12 @@
       Specifies the command to use for sending the ARP requests
       after the virtual IP switch.
       Set the command and parameters such as
-      <literal>"arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1"</literal>.
+      <literal>"arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0"</literal>.
+      Since root privilege is required to execute this command,
+      use <command>setuid</command> on <command>ip</command> command or
+      allow <productname>Pgpool-II</productname> startup user (<literal>postgres</literal> user by default)
+      to run <command>sudo</command> command without a password, and specify it such as
+      <literal>"/usr/bin/sudo /usr/sbin/arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0"</literal>.
       <literal>$_IP_$</literal> will get replaced by
       the IP address specified in the <varname>delegate_IP</varname>.
      </para>
diff --git a/src/pgpool.spec b/src/pgpool.spec
index b178a6d..de268c9 100644
--- a/src/pgpool.spec
+++ b/src/pgpool.spec
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ install -d %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}
 mv %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pcp.conf.sample %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pcp.conf
 mv %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pgpool.conf.sample %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pgpool.conf
 mv %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pool_hba.conf.sample %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pool_hba.conf
+touch %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pool_passwd
 
 %if %{systemd_enabled}
 install -d %{buildroot}%{_unitdir}
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ install -m 644 %{SOURCE3} %{buildroot}%{_unitdir}/pgpool.service
 
 mkdir -p %{buildroot}%{_tmpfilesdir}
 cat > %{buildroot}%{_tmpfilesdir}/%{name}.conf <<EOF
-d %{_varrundir} 0755 root root -
+d %{_varrundir} 0755 postgres postgres -
 EOF
 %else
 install -d %{buildroot}%{_initrddir}
@@ -165,8 +166,15 @@ install doc/src/sgml/man8/*.8 %{buildroot}%{_mandir}/man8
 %clean
 rm -rf %{buildroot}
 
+%pre
+groupadd -g 26 -o -r postgres >/dev/null 2>&1 || :
+useradd -M -g postgres -o -r -d /var/lib/pgsql -s /bin/bash \
+        -c "PostgreSQL Server" -u 26 postgres >/dev/null 2>&1 || :
+
 %post
 /sbin/ldconfig
+echo 'postgres ALL=NOPASSWD: /sbin/ip' | sudo EDITOR='tee -a' visudo
+echo 'postgres ALL=NOPASSWD: /usr/sbin/arping' | sudo EDITOR='tee -a' visudo
 
 %if %{systemd_enabled}
 %systemd_post pgpool.service
@@ -232,24 +240,27 @@ fi
 %{_mandir}/man1/*.1.gz
 %{_datadir}/%{short_name}/insert_lock.sql
 %{_datadir}/%{short_name}/pgpool.pam
+%{_libdir}/libpcp.so.*
+%if %{systemd_enabled}
+%ghost %{_varrundir}
+%{_tmpfilesdir}/%{name}.conf
+%{_unitdir}/pgpool.service
+%else
+%{_initrddir}/pgpool
+%endif
+%defattr(600,postgres,postgres,-)
 %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pgpool.conf.sample-master-slave
 %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pgpool.conf.sample-replication
 %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pgpool.conf.sample-stream
 %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pgpool.conf.sample-logical
+%defattr(755,postgres,postgres,-)
 %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/failover.sh.sample
 %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/follow_master.sh.sample
 %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pgpool_remote_start.sample
 %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/recovery_1st_stage.sample
 %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/recovery_2nd_stage.sample
-%{_libdir}/libpcp.so.*
-%if %{systemd_enabled}
-%ghost %{_varrundir}
-%{_tmpfilesdir}/%{name}.conf
-%{_unitdir}/pgpool.service
-%else
-%{_initrddir}/pgpool
-%endif
-%attr(764,root,root) %config(noreplace) %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/*.conf
+%attr(600,postgres,postgres) %config(noreplace) %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/*.conf
+%attr(600,postgres,postgres) %config(noreplace) %{_sysconfdir}/%{short_name}/pool_passwd
 %config(noreplace) %{_sysconfdir}/sysconfig/pgpool
 
 %files devel
diff --git a/src/redhat/pgpool.service b/src/redhat/pgpool.service
index 99fbadf..bf2d323 100644
--- a/src/redhat/pgpool.service
+++ b/src/redhat/pgpool.service
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ After=syslog.target network.target
 
 [Service]
 
+User=postgres
+Group=postgres
+
 EnvironmentFile=-/etc/sysconfig/pgpool
 
 ExecStart=/usr/bin/pgpool -f /etc/pgpool-II/pgpool.conf $OPTS
diff --git a/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample b/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample
index 16a650a..f810ff3 100644
--- a/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample
+++ b/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample
@@ -598,18 +598,20 @@ delegate_IP = ''
                                     # If this is empty, virtual IP never bring up.
                                     # (change requires restart)
 if_cmd_path = '/sbin'
-                                    # path to the directory where if_up/down_cmd exists 
+                                    # path to the directory where if_up/down_cmd exists
+                                    # If if_up/down_cmd starts with "/", if_cmd_path will be ignored.
                                     # (change requires restart)
-if_up_cmd = 'ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0'
+if_up_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0'
                                     # startup delegate IP command
                                     # (change requires restart)
-if_down_cmd = 'ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0'
+if_down_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0'
                                     # shutdown delegate IP command
                                     # (change requires restart)
 arping_path = '/usr/sbin'
                                     # arping command path
+                                    # If arping_cmd starts with "/", if_cmd_path will be ignored.
                                     # (change requires restart)
-arping_cmd = 'arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0'
+arping_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /usr/sbin/arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0'
                                     # arping command
                                     # (change requires restart)
 
diff --git a/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-logical b/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-logical
index cf69ae7..92e55d8 100644
--- a/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-logical
+++ b/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-logical
@@ -579,21 +579,23 @@ wd_ipc_socket_dir = '/tmp'
 
 delegate_IP = ''
                                     # delegate IP address
-                                    # If this is empty, virtual IP never bring up. 
+                                    # If this is empty, virtual IP never bring up.
                                     # (change requires restart)
 if_cmd_path = '/sbin'
-                                    # path to the directory where if_up/down_cmd exists 
+                                    # path to the directory where if_up/down_cmd exists
+                                    # If if_up/down_cmd starts with "/", if_cmd_path will be ignored.
                                     # (change requires restart)
-if_up_cmd = 'ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0'
+if_up_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0'
                                     # startup delegate IP command
                                     # (change requires restart)
-if_down_cmd = 'ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0'
+if_down_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0'
                                     # shutdown delegate IP command
                                     # (change requires restart)
 arping_path = '/usr/sbin'
                                     # arping command path
+                                    # If arping_cmd starts with "/", if_cmd_path will be ignored.
                                     # (change requires restart)
-arping_cmd = 'arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0'
+arping_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /usr/sbin/arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0'
                                     # arping command
                                     # (change requires restart)
 
diff --git a/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-master-slave b/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-master-slave
index bf0ea23..3fee442 100644
--- a/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-master-slave
+++ b/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-master-slave
@@ -589,21 +589,23 @@ wd_ipc_socket_dir = '/tmp'
 
 delegate_IP = ''
                                     # delegate IP address
-                                    # If this is empty, virtual IP never bring up. 
+                                    # If this is empty, virtual IP never bring up.
                                     # (change requires restart)
 if_cmd_path = '/sbin'
-                                    # path to the directory where if_up/down_cmd exists 
+                                    # path to the directory where if_up/down_cmd exists
+                                    # If if_up/down_cmd starts with "/", if_cmd_path will be ignored.
                                     # (change requires restart)
-if_up_cmd = 'ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0'
+if_up_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0'
                                     # startup delegate IP command
                                     # (change requires restart)
-if_down_cmd = 'ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0'
+if_down_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0'
                                     # shutdown delegate IP command
                                     # (change requires restart)
 arping_path = '/usr/sbin'
                                     # arping command path
+                                    # If arping_cmd starts with "/", arping_path will be ignored.
                                     # (change requires restart)
-arping_cmd = 'arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0'
+arping_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /usr/sbin/arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0'
                                     # arping command
                                     # (change requires restart)
 
diff --git a/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-replication b/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-replication
index 78f9c6b..9524c43 100644
--- a/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-replication
+++ b/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-replication
@@ -590,21 +590,23 @@ wd_ipc_socket_dir = '/tmp'
 
 delegate_IP = ''
                                     # delegate IP address
-                                    # If this is empty, virtual IP never bring up. 
+                                    # If this is empty, virtual IP never bring up.
                                     # (change requires restart)
 if_cmd_path = '/sbin'
-                                    # path to the directory where if_up/down_cmd exists 
+                                    # path to the directory where if_up/down_cmd exists
+                                    # If if_up/down_cmd starts with "/", if_cmd_path will be ignored.
                                     # (change requires restart)
-if_up_cmd = 'ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0'
+if_up_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0'
                                     # startup delegate IP command
                                     # (change requires restart)
-if_down_cmd = 'ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0'
+if_down_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0'
                                     # shutdown delegate IP command
                                     # (change requires restart)
 arping_path = '/usr/sbin'
                                     # arping command path
+                                    # If arping_cmd starts with "/", if_cmd_path will be ignored.
                                     # (change requires restart)
-arping_cmd = 'arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0'
+arping_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /usr/sbin/arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0'
                                     # arping command
                                     # (change requires restart)
 
diff --git a/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-stream b/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-stream
index 0ab05d0..95519fe 100644
--- a/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-stream
+++ b/src/sample/pgpool.conf.sample-stream
@@ -592,21 +592,23 @@ wd_ipc_socket_dir = '/tmp'
 
 delegate_IP = ''
                                     # delegate IP address
-                                    # If this is empty, virtual IP never bring up. 
+                                    # If this is empty, virtual IP never bring up.
                                     # (change requires restart)
 if_cmd_path = '/sbin'
-                                    # path to the directory where if_up/down_cmd exists 
+                                    # path to the directory where if_up/down_cmd exists
+                                    # If if_up/down_cmd starts with "/", if_cmd_path will be ignored.
                                     # (change requires restart)
-if_up_cmd = 'ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0'
+if_up_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr add $_IP_$/24 dev eth0 label eth0:0'
                                     # startup delegate IP command
                                     # (change requires restart)
-if_down_cmd = 'ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0'
+if_down_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /sbin/ip addr del $_IP_$/24 dev eth0'
                                     # shutdown delegate IP command
                                     # (change requires restart)
 arping_path = '/usr/sbin'
                                     # arping command path
+                                    # If arping_cmd starts with "/", if_cmd_path will be ignored.
                                     # (change requires restart)
-arping_cmd = 'arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0'
+arping_cmd = '/usr/bin/sudo /usr/sbin/arping -U $_IP_$ -w 1 -I eth0'
                                     # arping command
                                     # (change requires restart)
 
diff --git a/src/watchdog/wd_if.c b/src/watchdog/wd_if.c
index a7ea3d2..87ac637 100644
--- a/src/watchdog/wd_if.c
+++ b/src/watchdog/wd_if.c
@@ -118,7 +118,12 @@ wd_IP_up(void)
 	command = wd_get_cmd(pool_config->if_up_cmd);
 	if (command)
 	{
-		snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s", pool_config->if_cmd_path, command);
+
+		if (command[0] == '/')
+			snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s", command);
+		else
+			snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s", pool_config->if_cmd_path, command);
+
 		rtn = exec_if_cmd(path, pool_config->if_up_cmd);
 		pfree(command);
 	}
@@ -135,7 +140,11 @@ wd_IP_up(void)
 		command = wd_get_cmd(pool_config->arping_cmd);
 		if (command)
 		{
-			snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s", pool_config->arping_path, command);
+			if (command[0] == '/')
+				snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s", command);
+			else
+				snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s", pool_config->if_cmd_path, command);
+
 			rtn = exec_if_cmd(path, pool_config->arping_cmd);
 			pfree(command);
 		}
@@ -191,7 +200,11 @@ wd_IP_down(void)
 	command = wd_get_cmd(pool_config->if_down_cmd);
 	if (command)
 	{
-		snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s", pool_config->if_cmd_path, command);
+		if (command[0] == '/')
+			snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s", command);
+		else
+			snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s", pool_config->if_cmd_path, command);
+
 		rtn = exec_if_cmd(path, pool_config->if_down_cmd);
 		pfree(command);
 	}
diff --git a/src/watchdog/wd_utils.c b/src/watchdog/wd_utils.c
index 658024d..c36d34f 100644
--- a/src/watchdog/wd_utils.c
+++ b/src/watchdog/wd_utils.c
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ wd_check_network_command_configurations(void)
 
 	/* check setuid bit of ifup command */
 	command = wd_get_cmd(pool_config->if_up_cmd);
+	if (command[0] == '/')
+		return;
+
 	if (command)
 	{
 		snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s", pool_config->if_cmd_path, command);