diff --git a/topo/node/drivenets/drivenets.go b/topo/node/drivenets/drivenets.go
index 96be93b0..e52425c4 100644
--- a/topo/node/drivenets/drivenets.go
+++ b/topo/node/drivenets/drivenets.go
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ func (n *Node) cdnosCreate(ctx context.Context) error {
 			ConfigFile:     config.ConfigFile,
 			InitImage:      config.InitImage,
 			Ports:          ports,
-			InterfaceCount: len(nodeSpec.Interfaces),
+			InterfaceCount: meshnetInterfaceCount(nodeSpec.Interfaces),
 			InitSleep:      int(config.Sleep),
 			Resources:      node.ToResourceRequirements(nodeSpec.Constraints),
 			Labels:         nodeSpec.Labels,
@@ -587,6 +587,17 @@ func (n *Node) DefaultNodeConstraints() node.Constraints {
 	return defaultConstraints
 }
 
+// meshnetInterfaceCount returns the number of interfaces that meshnet will
+// actually create. eth0 is the management interface and is excluded from
+// meshnet links (see node.GetNodeLinks), so it must not be counted.
+func meshnetInterfaceCount(ifaces map[string]*tpb.Interface) int {
+	n := len(ifaces)
+	if _, ok := ifaces["eth0"]; ok {
+		n--
+	}
+	return n
+}
+
 func init() {
 	node.Vendor(tpb.Vendor_DRIVENETS, New)
 }
diff --git a/topo/node/drivenets/drivenets_test.go b/topo/node/drivenets/drivenets_test.go
index a6d1e8a6..934b87f0 100644
--- a/topo/node/drivenets/drivenets_test.go
+++ b/topo/node/drivenets/drivenets_test.go
@@ -108,6 +108,57 @@ func TestCdnosDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestMeshnetInterfaceCount(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		ifaces map[string]*tpb.Interface
+		want   int
+	}{
+		{
+			name:   "nil map",
+			ifaces: nil,
+			want:   0,
+		},
+		{
+			name:   "empty map",
+			ifaces: map[string]*tpb.Interface{},
+			want:   0,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "only meshnet interfaces",
+			ifaces: map[string]*tpb.Interface{
+				"eno0": {IntName: "eno0"},
+				"eno1": {IntName: "eno1"},
+			},
+			want: 2,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "eth0 excluded",
+			ifaces: map[string]*tpb.Interface{
+				"eth0": {IntName: "eth0", Name: "Management1"},
+				"eno0": {IntName: "eno0"},
+				"eno1": {IntName: "eno1"},
+			},
+			want: 2,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "only eth0",
+			ifaces: map[string]*tpb.Interface{
+				"eth0": {IntName: "eth0", Name: "Management1"},
+			},
+			want: 0,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := meshnetInterfaceCount(tt.ifaces)
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("meshnetInterfaceCount() = %d, want %d", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestDefaultNodeConstraints(t *testing.T) {
 	n := &Node{}
 	constraints := n.DefaultNodeConstraints()