diff --git a/src/core/netif.c b/src/core/netif.c
index dbf387cc..1de9613b 100644
--- a/src/core/netif.c
+++ b/src/core/netif.c
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ netif_init(void)
   loop_netif.ip6_addr_state[0] = IP6_ADDR_VALID;
 #endif /* LWIP_IPV6 */
 
+  netif_set_link_up(&loop_netif);
   netif_set_up(&loop_netif);
 
 #endif /* LWIP_HAVE_LOOPIF */