diff --git a/features/FEATURE_LWIP/lwip-interface/lwip_stack.c b/features/FEATURE_LWIP/lwip-interface/lwip_stack.c
index 95885ecbf13..c460a7a8ef0 100644
--- a/features/FEATURE_LWIP/lwip-interface/lwip_stack.c
+++ b/features/FEATURE_LWIP/lwip-interface/lwip_stack.c
@@ -478,8 +478,13 @@ nsapi_error_t mbed_lwip_emac_init(emac_interface_t *emac)
 // Backwards compatibility with people using DEVICE_EMAC
 nsapi_error_t mbed_lwip_init(emac_interface_t *emac)
 {
+    nsapi_error_t ret;
     mbed_lwip_core_init();
-    return mbed_lwip_emac_init(emac);
+    ret = mbed_lwip_emac_init(emac);
+    if (ret == NSAPI_ERROR_OK) {
+        netif_inited = true;
+    }
+    return ret;
 }
 
 // Backwards compatibility with people using DEVICE_EMAC