diff --git a/dist/tools/ethos/start_network.sh b/dist/tools/ethos/start_network.sh
index 3a06c126f0..fe0cb28d19 100755
--- a/dist/tools/ethos/start_network.sh
+++ b/dist/tools/ethos/start_network.sh
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ PORT=$1
 TAP=$2
 PREFIX=$3
 BAUDRATE=115200
+START_ETHOS=1
 
 [ -z "${PORT}" -o -z "${TAP}" -o -z "${PREFIX}" ] && {
     echo "usage: $0 [-d|--use-dhcp] [-e|--ethos-only] " \
diff --git a/dist/tools/sliptty/start_network.sh b/dist/tools/sliptty/start_network.sh
index 9572a82232..fe685821e3 100755
--- a/dist/tools/sliptty/start_network.sh
+++ b/dist/tools/sliptty/start_network.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ TUN=sl0
 TUN_GLB="fdea:dbee:f::1/64"
 UHCPD_PID=
 CREATED_IFACE=0
+START_SLIP=1
 
 SUDO=${SUDO:-sudo}