diff --git a/executables/referenceApp/platforms/posix/main/src/systems/TapEthernetSystem.cpp b/executables/referenceApp/platforms/posix/main/src/systems/TapEthernetSystem.cpp
index 163a88353ca..c2054025fab 100644
--- a/executables/referenceApp/platforms/posix/main/src/systems/TapEthernetSystem.cpp
+++ b/executables/referenceApp/platforms/posix/main/src/systems/TapEthernetSystem.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ void TapEthernetSystem::run()
 
 void TapEthernetSystem::shutdown()
 {
+    _driver.stop();
     _rxTimeout.cancel();
     transitionDone();
 }
diff --git a/platforms/posix/bsp/tapEthernetDriver/src/TapEthernetDriver.cpp b/platforms/posix/bsp/tapEthernetDriver/src/TapEthernetDriver.cpp
index 3ed4d8252a7..1c4de5365f3 100644
--- a/platforms/posix/bsp/tapEthernetDriver/src/TapEthernetDriver.cpp
+++ b/platforms/posix/bsp/tapEthernetDriver/src/TapEthernetDriver.cpp
@@ -64,11 +64,29 @@ TapEthernetDriver::TapEthernetDriver(::etl::array<uint8_t const, 6> const macAdd
 
 bool TapEthernetDriver::start(char const* const ifName)
 {
-    _tapFd = allocTapInterface(ifName);
-    return _tapFd >= 0;
+    if (_tapFd >= 0)
+    {
+        close(_tapFd);
+        _tapFd = -1;
+    }
+
+    int const fd = allocTapInterface(ifName);
+    if (fd < 0)
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
+    _tapFd = fd;
+    return true;
 }
 
-void TapEthernetDriver::stop() { _tapFd = -1; }
+void TapEthernetDriver::stop()
+{
+    if (_tapFd >= 0)
+    {
+        close(_tapFd);
+        _tapFd = -1;
+    }
+}
 
 void TapEthernetDriver::readFrame()
 {