diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/meson.build b/drivers/net/softnic/meson.build
index b3d235841d..91f1f3220f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/meson.build
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/meson.build
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ sources = files(
         'rte_eth_softnic_mempool.c',
         'rte_eth_softnic_pipeline.c',
         'rte_eth_softnic_swq.c',
-        'rte_eth_softnic_tap.c',
         'rte_eth_softnic_thread.c',
 )
 deps += ['pipeline', 'port', 'table']
diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.c b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.c
index 1ea5989223..eb97ae7185 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic.c
@@ -162,7 +162,6 @@ pmd_dev_stop(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	softnic_pipeline_free(p);
 	softnic_table_action_profile_free(p);
 	softnic_port_in_action_profile_free(p);
-	softnic_tap_free(p);
 	softnic_link_free(p);
 	softnic_softnic_swq_free_keep_rxq_txq(p);
 	softnic_mempool_free(p);
@@ -183,7 +182,6 @@ pmd_free(struct pmd_internals *p)
 	softnic_pipeline_free(p);
 	softnic_table_action_profile_free(p);
 	softnic_port_in_action_profile_free(p);
-	softnic_tap_free(p);
 	softnic_link_free(p);
 	softnic_swq_free(p);
 	softnic_mempool_free(p);
@@ -263,7 +261,6 @@ pmd_init(struct pmd_params *params)
 	softnic_mempool_init(p);
 	softnic_swq_init(p);
 	softnic_link_init(p);
-	softnic_tap_init(p);
 	softnic_port_in_action_profile_init(p);
 	softnic_table_action_profile_init(p);
 	softnic_pipeline_init(p);
diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_cli.c b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_cli.c
index bca0b176d6..501ef08c4c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_cli.c
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_cli.c
@@ -186,33 +186,6 @@ cmd_swq(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
 	}
 }
 
-/**
- * tap <tap_name>
- */
-static void
-cmd_tap(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
-	char **tokens,
-	uint32_t n_tokens,
-	char *out,
-	size_t out_size)
-{
-	char *name;
-	struct softnic_tap *tap;
-
-	if (n_tokens != 2) {
-		snprintf(out, out_size, MSG_ARG_MISMATCH, tokens[0]);
-		return;
-	}
-
-	name = tokens[1];
-
-	tap = softnic_tap_create(softnic, name);
-	if (tap == NULL) {
-		snprintf(out, out_size, MSG_CMD_FAIL, tokens[0]);
-		return;
-	}
-}
-
 /**
  * port in action profile <profile_name>
  *  [filter match | mismatch offset <key_offset> mask <key_mask> key <key_value> port <port_id>]
@@ -874,7 +847,6 @@ cmd_pipeline(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
  *  bsz <burst_size>
  *  link <link_name> rxq <queue_id>
  *  | swq <swq_name>
- *  | tap <tap_name> mempool <mempool_name> mtu <mtu>
  *  | source mempool <mempool_name> file <file_name> bpp <n_bytes_per_pkt>
  *  [action <port_in_action_profile_name>]
  *  [disabled]
@@ -957,38 +929,6 @@ cmd_pipeline_port_in(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
 		strlcpy(p.dev_name, tokens[t0 + 1], sizeof(p.dev_name));
 
 		t0 += 2;
-	} else if (strcmp(tokens[t0], "tap") == 0) {
-		if (n_tokens < t0 + 6) {
-			snprintf(out, out_size, MSG_ARG_MISMATCH,
-				"pipeline port in tap");
-			return;
-		}
-
-		p.type = PORT_IN_TAP;
-
-		strlcpy(p.dev_name, tokens[t0 + 1], sizeof(p.dev_name));
-
-		if (strcmp(tokens[t0 + 2], "mempool") != 0) {
-			snprintf(out, out_size, MSG_ARG_NOT_FOUND,
-				"mempool");
-			return;
-		}
-
-		p.tap.mempool_name = tokens[t0 + 3];
-
-		if (strcmp(tokens[t0 + 4], "mtu") != 0) {
-			snprintf(out, out_size, MSG_ARG_NOT_FOUND,
-				"mtu");
-			return;
-		}
-
-		if (softnic_parser_read_uint32(&p.tap.mtu,
-			tokens[t0 + 5]) != 0) {
-			snprintf(out, out_size, MSG_ARG_INVALID, "mtu");
-			return;
-		}
-
-		t0 += 6;
 	} else if (strcmp(tokens[t0], "source") == 0) {
 		if (n_tokens < t0 + 6) {
 			snprintf(out, out_size, MSG_ARG_MISMATCH,
@@ -1074,7 +1014,6 @@ cmd_pipeline_port_in(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
  *  bsz <burst_size>
  *  link <link_name> txq <txq_id>
  *  | swq <swq_name>
- *  | tap <tap_name>
  *  | sink [file <file_name> pkts <max_n_pkts>]
  */
 static void
@@ -1147,16 +1086,6 @@ cmd_pipeline_port_out(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
 
 		p.type = PORT_OUT_SWQ;
 
-		strlcpy(p.dev_name, tokens[7], sizeof(p.dev_name));
-	} else if (strcmp(tokens[6], "tap") == 0) {
-		if (n_tokens != 8) {
-			snprintf(out, out_size, MSG_ARG_MISMATCH,
-				"pipeline port out tap");
-			return;
-		}
-
-		p.type = PORT_OUT_TAP;
-
 		strlcpy(p.dev_name, tokens[7], sizeof(p.dev_name));
 	} else if (strcmp(tokens[6], "sink") == 0) {
 		if ((n_tokens != 7) && (n_tokens != 11)) {
@@ -4600,11 +4529,6 @@ softnic_cli_process(char *in, char *out, size_t out_size, void *arg)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (strcmp(tokens[0], "tap") == 0) {
-		cmd_tap(softnic, tokens, n_tokens, out, out_size);
-		return;
-	}
-
 	if (strcmp(tokens[0], "port") == 0) {
 		cmd_port_in_action_profile(softnic, tokens, n_tokens, out, out_size);
 		return;
diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_internals.h b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_internals.h
index ddcde99b98..df74c1fbdc 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_internals.h
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_internals.h
@@ -89,17 +89,6 @@ struct softnic_link {
 
 TAILQ_HEAD(softnic_link_list, softnic_link);
 
-/**
- * TAP
- */
-struct softnic_tap {
-	TAILQ_ENTRY(softnic_tap) node;
-	char name[NAME_SIZE];
-	int fd;
-};
-
-TAILQ_HEAD(softnic_tap_list, softnic_tap);
-
 /**
  * Input port action
  */
@@ -163,7 +152,6 @@ struct pipeline_params {
 enum softnic_port_in_type {
 	PORT_IN_RXQ,
 	PORT_IN_SWQ,
-	PORT_IN_TAP,
 	PORT_IN_SOURCE,
 };
 
@@ -176,11 +164,6 @@ struct softnic_port_in_params {
 			uint16_t queue_id;
 		} rxq;
 
-		struct {
-			const char *mempool_name;
-			uint32_t mtu;
-		} tap;
-
 		struct {
 			const char *mempool_name;
 			const char *file_name;
@@ -196,7 +179,6 @@ struct softnic_port_in_params {
 enum softnic_port_out_type {
 	PORT_OUT_TXQ,
 	PORT_OUT_SWQ,
-	PORT_OUT_TAP,
 	PORT_OUT_SINK,
 };
 
@@ -385,7 +367,6 @@ struct pmd_internals {
 	struct softnic_mempool_list mempool_list;
 	struct softnic_swq_list swq_list;
 	struct softnic_link_list link_list;
-	struct softnic_tap_list tap_list;
 	struct softnic_port_in_action_profile_list port_in_action_profile_list;
 	struct softnic_table_action_profile_list table_action_profile_list;
 	struct pipeline_list pipeline_list;
@@ -466,23 +447,6 @@ softnic_link_create(struct pmd_internals *p,
 	const char *name,
 	struct softnic_link_params *params);
 
-/**
- * TAP
- */
-int
-softnic_tap_init(struct pmd_internals *p);
-
-void
-softnic_tap_free(struct pmd_internals *p);
-
-struct softnic_tap *
-softnic_tap_find(struct pmd_internals *p,
-	const char *name);
-
-struct softnic_tap *
-softnic_tap_create(struct pmd_internals *p,
-	const char *name);
-
 /**
  * Input port action
  */
diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_pipeline.c b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_pipeline.c
index 51a1ea73c0..7a2828b785 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_pipeline.c
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_pipeline.c
@@ -293,25 +293,6 @@ softnic_pipeline_port_in_create(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
 		break;
 	}
 
-	case PORT_IN_TAP:
-	{
-		struct softnic_tap *tap;
-		struct softnic_mempool *mempool;
-
-		tap = softnic_tap_find(softnic, params->dev_name);
-		mempool = softnic_mempool_find(softnic, params->tap.mempool_name);
-		if (tap == NULL || mempool == NULL)
-			return -1;
-
-		pp.fd.fd = tap->fd;
-		pp.fd.mempool = mempool->m;
-		pp.fd.mtu = params->tap.mtu;
-
-		p.ops = &rte_port_fd_reader_ops;
-		p.arg_create = &pp.fd;
-		break;
-	}
-
 	case PORT_IN_SOURCE:
 	{
 		struct softnic_mempool *mempool;
@@ -499,31 +480,6 @@ softnic_pipeline_port_out_create(struct pmd_internals *softnic,
 		break;
 	}
 
-	case PORT_OUT_TAP:
-	{
-		struct softnic_tap *tap;
-
-		tap = softnic_tap_find(softnic, params->dev_name);
-		if (tap == NULL)
-			return -1;
-
-		pp.fd.fd = tap->fd;
-		pp.fd.tx_burst_sz = params->burst_size;
-
-		pp_nodrop.fd.fd = tap->fd;
-		pp_nodrop.fd.tx_burst_sz = params->burst_size;
-		pp_nodrop.fd.n_retries = params->n_retries;
-
-		if (params->retry == 0) {
-			p.ops = &rte_port_fd_writer_ops;
-			p.arg_create = &pp.fd;
-		} else {
-			p.ops = &rte_port_fd_writer_nodrop_ops;
-			p.arg_create = &pp_nodrop.fd;
-		}
-		break;
-	}
-
 	case PORT_OUT_SINK:
 	{
 		pp.sink.file_name = params->sink.file_name;
diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_tap.c b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_tap.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 36fe9f0287..0000000000
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_tap.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,118 +0,0 @@
-/* SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
- * Copyright(c) 2010-2018 Intel Corporation
- */
-
-#include <netinet/in.h>
-#ifdef RTE_EXEC_ENV_LINUX
-#include <linux/if.h>
-#include <linux/if_tun.h>
-#endif
-#include <sys/ioctl.h>
-
-#include <fcntl.h>
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <string.h>
-#include <unistd.h>
-
-#include <rte_string_fns.h>
-
-#include "rte_eth_softnic_internals.h"
-
-#define TAP_DEV                                            "/dev/net/tun"
-
-int
-softnic_tap_init(struct pmd_internals *p)
-{
-	TAILQ_INIT(&p->tap_list);
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
-void
-softnic_tap_free(struct pmd_internals *p)
-{
-	for ( ; ; ) {
-		struct softnic_tap *tap;
-
-		tap = TAILQ_FIRST(&p->tap_list);
-		if (tap == NULL)
-			break;
-
-		TAILQ_REMOVE(&p->tap_list, tap, node);
-		free(tap);
-	}
-}
-
-struct softnic_tap *
-softnic_tap_find(struct pmd_internals *p,
-	const char *name)
-{
-	struct softnic_tap *tap;
-
-	if (name == NULL)
-		return NULL;
-
-	TAILQ_FOREACH(tap, &p->tap_list, node)
-		if (strcmp(tap->name, name) == 0)
-			return tap;
-
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-#ifndef RTE_EXEC_ENV_LINUX
-
-struct softnic_tap *
-softnic_tap_create(struct pmd_internals *p __rte_unused,
-	const char *name __rte_unused)
-{
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-#else
-
-struct softnic_tap *
-softnic_tap_create(struct pmd_internals *p,
-	const char *name)
-{
-	struct softnic_tap *tap;
-	struct ifreq ifr;
-	int fd, status;
-
-	/* Check input params */
-	if (name == NULL ||
-		softnic_tap_find(p, name))
-		return NULL;
-
-	/* Resource create */
-	fd = open(TAP_DEV, O_RDWR | O_NONBLOCK);
-	if (fd < 0)
-		return NULL;
-
-	memset(&ifr, 0, sizeof(ifr));
-	ifr.ifr_flags = IFF_TAP | IFF_NO_PI; /* No packet information */
-	strlcpy(ifr.ifr_name, name, IFNAMSIZ);
-
-	status = ioctl(fd, TUNSETIFF, (void *)&ifr);
-	if (status < 0) {
-		close(fd);
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	/* Node allocation */
-	tap = calloc(1, sizeof(struct softnic_tap));
-	if (tap == NULL) {
-		close(fd);
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	/* Node fill in */
-	strlcpy(tap->name, name, sizeof(tap->name));
-	tap->fd = fd;
-
-	/* Node add to list */
-	TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&p->tap_list, tap, node);
-
-	return tap;
-}
-
-#endif
