diff --git a/src/runmode-netmap.c b/src/runmode-netmap.c
index 927dc71885..e207cf0630 100644
--- a/src/runmode-netmap.c
+++ b/src/runmode-netmap.c
@@ -344,7 +344,9 @@ static void *ParseNetmapConfig(const char *iface_name)
         }
     }
 
-    int ring_count = NetmapGetRSSCount(aconf->iface_name);
+    int ring_count = 0;
+    if (aconf->in.real)
+        ring_count = NetmapGetRSSCount(aconf->iface_name);
     if (strlen(aconf->iface_name) > 0 &&
             (aconf->iface_name[strlen(aconf->iface_name) - 1] == '^' ||
                     aconf->iface_name[strlen(aconf->iface_name) - 1] == '*')) {