diff --git a/repos/ports/src/virtualbox5/network.cpp b/repos/ports/src/virtualbox5/network.cpp
index efbee88777..12b4d1e2e5 100644
--- a/repos/ports/src/virtualbox5/network.cpp
+++ b/repos/ports/src/virtualbox5/network.cpp
@@ -225,8 +225,8 @@ class Nic_client
 			_nic.rx_channel()->sigh_packet_avail(_rx_packet_avail_dispatcher);
 			_nic.rx_channel()->sigh_ready_to_ack(_rx_ready_to_ack_dispatcher);
 
-			/* set initial link-state */
-			_handle_link_state();
+			/* inform signal handler ep */
+			_link_state_dispatcher.local_submit();
 		}
 
 		Genode::Signal_context_capability dispatcher()   { return _destruct_dispatcher; }
diff --git a/repos/ports/src/virtualbox6/network.cc b/repos/ports/src/virtualbox6/network.cc
index 91c81f4008..e58bd17485 100644
--- a/repos/ports/src/virtualbox6/network.cc
+++ b/repos/ports/src/virtualbox6/network.cc
@@ -240,8 +240,8 @@ class Nic_client
 			_nic.rx_channel()->sigh_packet_avail(_rx_packet_avail_dispatcher);
 			_nic.rx_channel()->sigh_ready_to_ack(_rx_ready_to_ack_dispatcher);
 
-			/* set initial link-state */
-			_handle_link_state();
+			/* inform signal handler ep */
+			_link_state_dispatcher.local_submit();
 		}
 
 		Genode::Signal_context_capability dispatcher()   { return _destruct_dispatcher; }