diff --git a/sys/dev/arl/if_arl.c b/sys/dev/arl/if_arl.c
index eeb0406b7051..2d199e46286b 100644
--- a/sys/dev/arl/if_arl.c
+++ b/sys/dev/arl/if_arl.c
@@ -216,7 +216,8 @@ arl_attach(dev)
 	if_initname(ifp, device_get_name(dev), device_get_unit(dev));
 #endif
 	ifp->if_mtu = ETHERMTU;
-	ifp->if_flags = IFF_BROADCAST | IFF_SIMPLEX | IFF_MULTICAST;
+	ifp->if_flags = IFF_BROADCAST | IFF_SIMPLEX | IFF_MULTICAST |
+	    IFF_NEEDSGIANT;
 	ifp->if_start = arl_start;
 	ifp->if_ioctl = arl_ioctl;
 	ifp->if_watchdog = arl_watchdog;