diff --git a/netstack/src/scheme/netcfg/mod.rs b/netstack/src/scheme/netcfg/mod.rs
index b381d1be1c..168d7b1016 100644
--- a/netstack/src/scheme/netcfg/mod.rs
+++ b/netstack/src/scheme/netcfg/mod.rs
@@ -75,23 +75,41 @@ fn parse_route(value: &str, route_table: &RouteTable) -> SyscallResult<Rule> {
             .map_err(|_| SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL))?,
     };
 
-    let via: IpAddress = match parts.next().ok_or(SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL))? {
-        "via" => parts
-            .next()
-            .ok_or(SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL))?
-            .parse()
-            .map_err(|_| SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL))?,
+    let dev;
+    let via;
+    let src;
+
+    // Accept "via <ip>" or "dev <name>" or both.
+    match parts.next() {
+        Some("via") => {
+            let gw: IpAddress = parts
+                .next()
+                .ok_or(SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL))?
+                .parse()
+                .map_err(|_| SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL))?;
+            if !gw.is_unicast() {
+                return Err(SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL));
+            }
+            let rule = route_table
+                .lookup_rule(&gw)
+                .ok_or(SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL))?;
+            via = Some(gw);
+            dev = rule.dev.clone();
+            src = rule.src;
+        }
+        Some("dev") => {
+            dev = parts
+                .next()
+                .ok_or(SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL))?
+                .into();
+            via = None;
+            // Use 0.0.0.0 as source for direct routes — the routing
+            // layer will pick the correct source IP when sending.
+            src = IpAddress::v4(0, 0, 0, 0);
+        }
         _ => return Err(SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL)),
     };
 
-    if !via.is_unicast() {
-        return Err(SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL));
-    }
-
-    let rule = route_table
-        .lookup_rule(&via)
-        .ok_or(SyscallError::new(syscall::EINVAL))?;
-
     let mut metric: u32 = 0;
     if let Some(keyword) = parts.next() {
         if keyword == "metric" {
@@ -105,7 +123,7 @@ fn parse_route(value: &str, route_table: &RouteTable) -> SyscallResult<Rule> {
         }
     }
 
-    Ok(Rule::new(cidr, Some(via), rule.dev.clone(), rule.src).with_metric(metric))
+    Ok(Rule::new(cidr, via, dev, src).with_metric(metric))
 }
 
 fn mk_root_node(