diff --git a/drivers/net/netdevsim/netdev.c b/drivers/net/netdevsim/netdev.c
index 0178219f0db5..d7938e11f24d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/netdevsim/netdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/netdevsim/netdev.c
@@ -528,6 +528,7 @@ static void nsim_enable_napi(struct netdevsim *ns)
 static int nsim_open(struct net_device *dev)
 {
 	struct netdevsim *ns = netdev_priv(dev);
+	struct netdevsim *peer;
 	int err;
 
 	netdev_assert_locked(dev);
@@ -538,6 +539,12 @@ static int nsim_open(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	nsim_enable_napi(ns);
 
+	peer = rtnl_dereference(ns->peer);
+	if (peer && netif_running(peer->netdev)) {
+		netif_carrier_on(dev);
+		netif_carrier_on(peer->netdev);
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 }