diff --git a/cpu/native/startup.c b/cpu/native/startup.c
index 262f706b05..d760ebf747 100644
--- a/cpu/native/startup.c
+++ b/cpu/native/startup.c
@@ -115,6 +115,9 @@ static const char short_opts[] = ":hi:s:deEoc:"
 #endif
 #ifdef MODULE_PERIPH_SPIDEV_LINUX
     "p:"
+#endif
+#ifdef MODULE_NETDEV_TAP
+    "w:"
 #endif
     "";
 
@@ -367,6 +370,11 @@ void usage_exit(int status)
 "    -M <eeprom> , --eeprom=<eeprom>\n"
 "        Specify the file path where the EEPROM content is stored\n"
 "        Example: --eeprom=/tmp/riot_native.eeprom\n");
+#endif
+#ifdef MODULE_NETDEV_TAP
+    real_printf(
+"    -w <tap>\n"
+"        Add a tap interface as a wireless interface\n");
 #endif
     real_exit(status);
 }
@@ -468,6 +476,9 @@ __attribute__((constructor)) static void startup(int argc, char **argv, char **e
     _native_id = _native_pid;
 
     int c, opt_idx = 0, uart = 0;
+#ifdef MODULE_NETDEV_TAP
+    unsigned taps = 0;
+#endif
 #ifdef MODULE_SOCKET_ZEP
     unsigned zeps = 0;
 #endif
@@ -575,6 +586,13 @@ __attribute__((constructor)) static void startup(int argc, char **argv, char **e
                 strncpy(eeprom_file, optarg, EEPROM_FILEPATH_MAX_LEN);
                 break;
             }
+#endif
+#ifdef MODULE_NETDEV_TAP
+            case 'w':
+                netdev_tap_params[taps].tap_name = &argv[optind - 1];
+                netdev_tap_params[taps].wired = false;
+                ++taps;
+                break;
 #endif
             default:
                 usage_exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
@@ -582,7 +600,7 @@ __attribute__((constructor)) static void startup(int argc, char **argv, char **e
         }
     }
 #ifdef MODULE_NETDEV_TAP
-    for (int i = 0; i < NETDEV_TAP_MAX; i++) {
+    for (unsigned i = 0; i < NETDEV_TAP_MAX - taps; i++) {
         if (argv[optind + i] == NULL) {
             /* no tap parameter left */
             usage_exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
@@ -653,9 +671,9 @@ __attribute__((constructor)) static void startup(int argc, char **argv, char **e
     native_cpu_init();
     native_interrupt_init();
 #ifdef MODULE_NETDEV_TAP
-    for (int i = 0; i < NETDEV_TAP_MAX; i++) {
-        netdev_tap_params[i].tap_name = &argv[optind + i];
-        netdev_tap_params[i].wired = true;
+    for (unsigned i = 0; taps < NETDEV_TAP_MAX; ++taps, ++i) {
+        netdev_tap_params[taps].tap_name = &argv[optind + i];
+        netdev_tap_params[taps].wired = true;
     }
 #endif