diff --git a/usr.sbin/bhyve/net_backends.c b/usr.sbin/bhyve/net_backends.c
--- a/usr.sbin/bhyve/net_backends.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/bhyve/net_backends.c
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@
 		goto error;
 	}
 
-	if (ioctl(be->fd, VMIO_SIOCSIFFLAGS, &up)) {
+	if (ioctl(be->fd, VMIO_SIOCSIFFLAGS, up)) {
 		WPRINTF(("tap device link up failed"));
 		goto error;
 	}