diff --git a/wgengine/router/router_darwin.go b/wgengine/router/router_darwin.go
index 5e9cb14a1..7dab1cf91 100644
--- a/wgengine/router/router_darwin.go
+++ b/wgengine/router/router_darwin.go
@@ -45,3 +45,10 @@ func (r *darwinRouter) Set(cfg *Config) error {
 
 	return r.Router.Set(cfg)
 }
+
+func (r *darwinRouter) Up() error {
+	if SetRoutesFunc != nil {
+		return nil // bringing up the tunnel is handled externally
+	}
+	return r.Router.Up()
+}