diff --git a/cmd/cli/cli.go b/cmd/cli/cli.go
index 8b2999f..3f76c80 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/cli.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/cli.go
@@ -144,8 +144,6 @@ func initCLI() {
 	_ = runCmd.Flags().MarkHidden("homedir")
 	runCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&iface, "iface", "", "", `Update DNS setting for iface, "auto" means the default interface gateway`)
 	_ = runCmd.Flags().MarkHidden("iface")
-	runCmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&setupRouter, "router", "", false, "Do setup router")
-	_ = runCmd.Flags().MarkHidden("router")
 	runCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&cdUpstreamProto, "proto", "", ctrld.ResolverTypeDOH, `Control D upstream type, either "doh" or "doh3"`)
 
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(runCmd)
@@ -255,7 +253,7 @@ func initCLI() {
 				return
 			}
 
-			if router.Name() != "" && setupRouter {
+			if router.Name() != "" && iface != "" {
 				mainLog.Load().Debug().Msg("cleaning up router before installing")
 				_ = p.router.Cleanup()
 			}
@@ -312,8 +310,6 @@ func initCLI() {
 	startCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&iface, "iface", "", "", `Update DNS setting for iface, "auto" means the default interface gateway`)
 	startCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&nextdns, nextdnsFlagName, "", "", "NextDNS resolver id")
 	startCmd.Flags().StringVarP(&cdUpstreamProto, "proto", "", ctrld.ResolverTypeDOH, `Control D upstream type, either "doh" or "doh3"`)
-	startCmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&setupRouter, "router", "", false, "Do router setup")
-	_ = startCmd.Flags().MarkHidden("router")
 
 	routerCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use: "setup",
@@ -598,16 +594,11 @@ NOTE: Uninstalling will set DNS to values provided by DHCP.`,
 			if !cmd.Flags().Changed("iface") {
 				os.Args = append(os.Args, "--iface="+ifaceStartStop)
 			}
-			if !cmd.Flags().Changed("router") {
-				os.Args = append(os.Args, fmt.Sprintf("--router=%v", setupRouterStartStop))
-			}
 			iface = ifaceStartStop
-			setupRouter = setupRouterStartStop
 			startCmd.Run(cmd, args)
 		},
 	}
 	startCmdAlias.Flags().StringVarP(&ifaceStartStop, "iface", "", "auto", `Update DNS setting for iface, "auto" means the default interface gateway`)
-	startCmdAlias.Flags().BoolVarP(&setupRouterStartStop, "router", "", true, "Do router setup")
 	startCmdAlias.Flags().AddFlagSet(startCmd.Flags())
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(startCmdAlias)
 	stopCmdAlias := &cobra.Command{
@@ -621,16 +612,11 @@ NOTE: Uninstalling will set DNS to values provided by DHCP.`,
 			if !cmd.Flags().Changed("iface") {
 				os.Args = append(os.Args, "--iface="+ifaceStartStop)
 			}
-			if !cmd.Flags().Changed("router") {
-				os.Args = append(os.Args, fmt.Sprintf("--router=%v", setupRouterStartStop))
-			}
 			iface = ifaceStartStop
-			setupRouter = setupRouterStartStop
 			stopCmd.Run(cmd, args)
 		},
 	}
 	stopCmdAlias.Flags().StringVarP(&ifaceStartStop, "iface", "", "auto", `Reset DNS setting for iface, "auto" means the default interface gateway`)
-	stopCmdAlias.Flags().BoolVarP(&setupRouterStartStop, "router", "", true, "Do router setup")
 	stopCmdAlias.Flags().AddFlagSet(stopCmd.Flags())
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(stopCmdAlias)
 
@@ -991,7 +977,7 @@ func run(appCallback *AppCallback, stopCh chan struct{}) {
 		if cp := router.CertPool(); cp != nil {
 			rootCertPool = cp
 		}
-		if setupRouter {
+		if iface != "" {
 			p.onStarted = append(p.onStarted, func() {
 				mainLog.Load().Debug().Msg("router setup on start")
 				if err := p.router.Setup(); err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/cli/main.go b/cmd/cli/main.go
index aa166ca..3f1ef8b 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/main.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/main.go
@@ -14,28 +14,26 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	configPath           string
-	configBase64         string
-	daemon               bool
-	listenAddress        string
-	primaryUpstream      string
-	secondaryUpstream    string
-	domains              []string
-	logPath              string
-	homedir              string
-	cacheSize            int
-	cfg                  ctrld.Config
-	verbose              int
-	silent               bool
-	cdUID                string
-	cdOrg                string
-	cdDev                bool
-	iface                string
-	ifaceStartStop       string
-	nextdns              string
-	cdUpstreamProto      string
-	setupRouter          bool
-	setupRouterStartStop bool
+	configPath        string
+	configBase64      string
+	daemon            bool
+	listenAddress     string
+	primaryUpstream   string
+	secondaryUpstream string
+	domains           []string
+	logPath           string
+	homedir           string
+	cacheSize         int
+	cfg               ctrld.Config
+	verbose           int
+	silent            bool
+	cdUID             string
+	cdOrg             string
+	cdDev             bool
+	iface             string
+	ifaceStartStop    string
+	nextdns           string
+	cdUpstreamProto   string
 
 	mainLog       atomic.Pointer[zerolog.Logger]
 	consoleWriter zerolog.ConsoleWriter