diff --git a/cpu/native/Makefile.dep b/cpu/native/Makefile.dep
index 7fb477b19e61..b996ab9c3d87 100644
--- a/cpu/native/Makefile.dep
+++ b/cpu/native/Makefile.dep
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ ifneq (,$(filter socket_zep,$(USEMODULE)))
   endif
 endif
 
+ifneq (,$(filter netdev_tap,$(USEMODULE)))
+  USEMODULE += netdev_legacy_api
+endif
+
 ifneq (,$(filter libc_gettimeofday,$(USEMODULE)))
   USEMODULE += ztimer64_usec
 endif