diff --git a/net_util/src/open_tap.rs b/net_util/src/open_tap.rs
index dd5d498688..e8cece7606 100644
--- a/net_util/src/open_tap.rs
+++ b/net_util/src/open_tap.rs
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@ pub fn open_tap(
     let mut taps: Vec<Tap> = Vec::new();
     let mut ifname: String = String::new();
     let vnet_hdr_size = vnet_hdr_len() as i32;
+    // Check if the given interface exists before we create it.
+    let tap_existed = if_name.map_or(false, |n| {
+        Path::new(&format!("/sys/class/net/{n}")).exists()
+    });
 
     // In case the tap interface already exists, check if the number of
     // queues is appropriate. The tap might not support multiqueue while
@@ -87,11 +91,16 @@ pub fn open_tap(
                 Some(name) => Tap::open_named(name, num_rx_q, flags).map_err(Error::TapOpen)?,
                 None => Tap::new(num_rx_q).map_err(Error::TapOpen)?,
             };
-            if let Some(ip) = ip_addr {
-                tap.set_ip_addr(ip).map_err(Error::TapSetIp)?;
-            }
-            if let Some(mask) = netmask {
-                tap.set_netmask(mask).map_err(Error::TapSetNetmask)?;
+            // Don't overwrite ip configuration of existing interfaces:
+            if !tap_existed {
+                if let Some(ip) = ip_addr {
+                    tap.set_ip_addr(ip).map_err(Error::TapSetIp)?;
+                }
+                if let Some(mask) = netmask {
+                    tap.set_netmask(mask).map_err(Error::TapSetNetmask)?;
+                }
+            } else {
+                warn!("Tap {} already exists. IP configuration will not be overwritten.", if_name.unwrap_or_default());
             }
             if let Some(mac) = host_mac {
                 tap.set_mac_addr(*mac).map_err(Error::TapSetMac)?
diff --git a/vmm/src/device_manager.rs b/vmm/src/device_manager.rs
index ed0f7d1166..883f0c0407 100644
--- a/vmm/src/device_manager.rs
+++ b/vmm/src/device_manager.rs
@@ -2464,8 +2464,8 @@ impl DeviceManager {
                     virtio_devices::Net::new(
                         id.clone(),
                         Some(tap_if_name),
-                        None,
-                        None,
+                        Some(net_cfg.ip),
+                        Some(net_cfg.mask),
                         Some(net_cfg.mac),
                         &mut net_cfg.host_mac,
                         net_cfg.mtu,