diff --git a/src/confd/src/cni.h b/src/confd/src/cni.h
index c4e173aa..886a06ce 100644
--- a/src/confd/src/cni.h
+++ b/src/confd/src/cni.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ int cni_ifchange_cand_infer_type(sr_session_ctx_t *session, const char *path);
 
 #else
 static inline pid_t cni_find(const char *ifname) { return 0; }
-static inline FILE *cni_popen(const char *fmt, const char *ifname) { return popenf(fmt, ifname); }
+static inline FILE *cni_popen(const char *fmt, const char *ifname) { return popenf("re", fmt, ifname); }
 
 static inline int cni_netdag_gen_iface(struct dagger *net, const char *ifname, struct lyd_node *dif, struct lyd_node *cif) { return 0; }
 static inline int cni_ifchange_cand_infer_type(sr_session_ctx_t *session, const char *path) { return 0; }