diff --git a/net/tap.c b/net/tap.c
index 12a08d5..d6d8456 100644
--- a/net/tap.c
+++ b/net/tap.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <sys/socket.h>
 #include <net/if.h>
 
+#include "net/eth.h"
 #include "net/net.h"
 #include "clients.h"
 #include "monitor/monitor.h"
@@ -189,6 +190,8 @@
 
     while (true) {
         uint8_t *buf = s->buf;
+        uint8_t min_pkt[ETH_ZLEN];
+        size_t min_pktsz = sizeof(min_pkt);
 
         size = tap_read_packet(s->fd, s->buf, sizeof(s->buf));
         if (size <= 0) {
@@ -200,6 +203,13 @@
             size -= s->host_vnet_hdr_len;
         }
 
+        if (!s->nc.peer->do_not_pad) {
+            if (eth_pad_short_frame(min_pkt, &min_pktsz, buf, size)) {
+                buf = min_pkt;
+                size = min_pktsz;
+            }
+        }
+
         size = qemu_send_packet_async(&s->nc, buf, size, tap_send_completed);
         if (size == 0) {
             tap_read_poll(s, false);