diff --git a/scripts/runqemu-gen-tapdevs b/scripts/runqemu-gen-tapdevs
index 2c1ff0eefb..f5be30ac32 100755
--- a/scripts/runqemu-gen-tapdevs
+++ b/scripts/runqemu-gen-tapdevs
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ if [ ! -x "$IFCONFIG" ]; then
 fi
 
 # Ensure we start with a clean slate
-for tap in `$IFCONFIG | grep ^tap | awk '{ print \$1 }'`; do
+for tap in `$IFCONFIG | grep ^tap | awk '{ print \$1 }' | sed s/://`; do
 	echo "Note: Destroying pre-existing tap interface $tap..."
 	$TUNCTL -d $tap
 done
diff --git a/scripts/runqemu-internal b/scripts/runqemu-internal
index 6e20dd7512..6b8bb6520e 100755
--- a/scripts/runqemu-internal
+++ b/scripts/runqemu-internal
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ if [ ! -x "$IFCONFIG" ]; then
        exit 1
 fi
 
-POSSIBLE=`$IFCONFIG -a | grep '^tap' | awk '{print $1}'`
+POSSIBLE=`$IFCONFIG -a | grep '^tap' | awk '{print $1}' | sed s/://`
 TAP=""
 LOCKFILE=""
 for tap in $POSSIBLE; do