diff --git a/rc/bin/cpurc b/rc/bin/cpurc
index 6a348b833..0d078cb5b 100755
--- a/rc/bin/cpurc
+++ b/rc/bin/cpurc
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ if(test -r /net/ipselftab){
 		addrs=`{ndb/query -a sys $sysname ether}
 		if(! ~ $#addrs 0){
 			for(ether in /net/ether*){
-				addr=`{cat $ether/addr}
+				addr=`{cat $ether/addr >[2]/dev/null}
 				switch($addr){
 				case $addrs
 					# try /lib/ndb first, then do dhcp/slaac
diff --git a/rc/bin/termrc b/rc/bin/termrc
index ca5af3442..082cb63b3 100755
--- a/rc/bin/termrc
+++ b/rc/bin/termrc
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ if(test -r /net/ipselftab){
 		addrs=`{ndb/query -a sys $sysname ether}
 		if(! ~ $#addrs 0){
 			for(ether in /net/ether*){
-				addr=`{cat $ether/addr}
+				addr=`{cat $ether/addr >[2]/dev/null}
 				switch($addr){
 				case $addrs
 					# try /lib/ndb first, then do dhcp/slaac