diff --git a/.github/contributors.yaml b/.github/contributors.yaml
index 80df2d17..115a711b 100644
--- a/.github/contributors.yaml
+++ b/.github/contributors.yaml
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ users:
   Chennamma-Hotkar:
     name: Chennamma Hotkar
     email: channuhotkar@gmail.com
+  Anamika1608:
+    name: Anamika Aggarwal
+    email: anamikaagg18@gmail.com
   pocopepe:
     name: Viju Sanjai
     email: avijusanjai@gmail.com
diff --git a/.github/linters/urunc-dict.txt b/.github/linters/urunc-dict.txt
index 07a4855b..d7d2189a 100644
--- a/.github/linters/urunc-dict.txt
+++ b/.github/linters/urunc-dict.txt
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ Sharedfs
 Syscalls
 TUNSETGROUP
 TUNSETOWNER
+TUNSETPERSIST
 TUNTAP
 Timestamping
 Tmpfs
diff --git a/pkg/network/network.go b/pkg/network/network.go
index 375af431..cbc73c70 100644
--- a/pkg/network/network.go
+++ b/pkg/network/network.go
@@ -101,16 +101,35 @@ func createTapDevice(name string, mtu int, ownerUID, ownerGID uint32) (netlink.L
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create tap device: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	// LinkAdd opened the tap device's fd and set TUNSETPERSIST, so the
+	// interface survives independently of any open fd. Nothing after the
+	// owner/group ioctl calls uses the fd (the remaining setup goes through
+	// netlink and the monitor attaches to the device by name with its own
+	// open), so close it right away instead of relying on a later exec to
+	// close it (O_CLOEXEC). A single-queue tap device only allows one
+	// attached fd at a time, so holding it open blocks the monitor from
+	// attaching if the caller does not exec away.
 	for _, tapFd := range tapLink.Fds {
 		err = unix.IoctlSetInt(int(tapFd.Fd()), unix.TUNSETOWNER, int(ownerUID))
 		if err != nil {
+			if closeErr := tapFd.Close(); closeErr != nil {
+				netlog.Warnf("failed to close tap %s fd after owner ioctl error: %v", name, closeErr)
+			}
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to set tap %s owner to uid %d: %w", name, ownerUID, err)
 		}
 
 		err = unix.IoctlSetInt(int(tapFd.Fd()), unix.TUNSETGROUP, int(ownerGID))
 		if err != nil {
+			if closeErr := tapFd.Close(); closeErr != nil {
+				netlog.Warnf("failed to close tap %s fd after group ioctl error: %v", name, closeErr)
+			}
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to set tap %s group to gid %d: %w", name, ownerGID, err)
 		}
+
+		err = tapFd.Close()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to close the fd of tap %s: %w", name, err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	err = netlink.LinkSetMTU(tapLink, mtu)