diff --git a/pkg/ip/link_linux.go b/pkg/ip/link_linux.go
index 909afd04..873204dd 100644
--- a/pkg/ip/link_linux.go
+++ b/pkg/ip/link_linux.go
@@ -60,11 +60,15 @@ func peerExists(name string) bool {
 	return true
 }
 
-func makeVeth(name string, mtu int) (peerName string, veth netlink.Link, err error) {
+func makeVeth(name, vethPeerName string, mtu int) (peerName string, veth netlink.Link, err error) {
 	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
-		peerName, err = RandomVethName()
-		if err != nil {
-			return
+		if vethPeerName != "" {
+			peerName = vethPeerName
+		} else {
+			peerName, err = RandomVethName()
+			if err != nil {
+				return
+			}
 		}
 
 		veth, err = makeVethPair(name, peerName, mtu)
@@ -124,9 +128,10 @@ func ifaceFromNetlinkLink(l netlink.Link) net.Interface {
 // SetupVeth sets up a pair of virtual ethernet devices.
 // Call SetupVeth from inside the container netns.  It will create both veth
 // devices and move the host-side veth into the provided hostNS namespace.
+// hostVethName: If hostVethName is not specified, the host-side veth name will use a random string.
 // On success, SetupVeth returns (hostVeth, containerVeth, nil)
-func SetupVeth(contVethName string, mtu int, hostNS ns.NetNS) (net.Interface, net.Interface, error) {
-	hostVethName, contVeth, err := makeVeth(contVethName, mtu)
+func SetupVeth(contVethName, hostVethName string, mtu int, hostNS ns.NetNS) (net.Interface, net.Interface, error) {
+	hostVethName, contVeth, err := makeVeth(contVethName, hostVethName, mtu)
 	if err != nil {
 		return net.Interface{}, net.Interface{}, err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/ip/link_linux_test.go b/pkg/ip/link_linux_test.go
index 58905455..e0dabf2c 100644
--- a/pkg/ip/link_linux_test.go
+++ b/pkg/ip/link_linux_test.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Link", func() {
 		_ = containerNetNS.Do(func(ns.NetNS) error {
 			defer GinkgoRecover()
 
-			hostVeth, containerVeth, err = ip.SetupVeth(fmt.Sprintf(ifaceFormatString, ifaceCounter), mtu, hostNetNS)
+			hostVeth, containerVeth, err = ip.SetupVeth(fmt.Sprintf(ifaceFormatString, ifaceCounter), "", mtu, hostNetNS)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Link", func() {
 			_ = containerNetNS.Do(func(ns.NetNS) error {
 				defer GinkgoRecover()
 
-				_, _, err := ip.SetupVeth(containerVethName, mtu, hostNetNS)
+				_, _, err := ip.SetupVeth(containerVethName, "", mtu, hostNetNS)
 				Expect(err.Error()).To(Equal(fmt.Sprintf("container veth name provided (%s) already exists", containerVethName)))
 
 				return nil
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Link", func() {
 			_ = containerNetNS.Do(func(ns.NetNS) error {
 				defer GinkgoRecover()
 
-				_, _, err := ip.SetupVeth(containerVethName, mtu, hostNetNS)
+				_, _, err := ip.SetupVeth(containerVethName, "", mtu, hostNetNS)
 				Expect(err.Error()).To(Equal("failed to move veth to host netns: file exists"))
 
 				return nil
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Link", func() {
 			_ = containerNetNS.Do(func(ns.NetNS) error {
 				defer GinkgoRecover()
 
-				hostVeth, _, err := ip.SetupVeth(containerVethName, mtu, hostNetNS)
+				hostVeth, _, err := ip.SetupVeth(containerVethName, "", mtu, hostNetNS)
 				Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
 				hostVethName = hostVeth.Name
 				return nil
diff --git a/plugins/main/bridge/bridge.go b/plugins/main/bridge/bridge.go
index fb78a5f8..73681aff 100644
--- a/plugins/main/bridge/bridge.go
+++ b/plugins/main/bridge/bridge.go
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ func setupVeth(netns ns.NetNS, br *netlink.Bridge, ifName string, mtu int, hairp
 
 	err := netns.Do(func(hostNS ns.NetNS) error {
 		// create the veth pair in the container and move host end into host netns
-		hostVeth, containerVeth, err := ip.SetupVeth(ifName, mtu, hostNS)
+		hostVeth, containerVeth, err := ip.SetupVeth(ifName, "", mtu, hostNS)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/plugins/main/ptp/ptp.go b/plugins/main/ptp/ptp.go
index a748d7f6..ff085fe7 100644
--- a/plugins/main/ptp/ptp.go
+++ b/plugins/main/ptp/ptp.go
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func setupContainerVeth(netns ns.NetNS, ifName string, mtu int, pr *current.Resu
 	containerInterface := &current.Interface{}
 
 	err := netns.Do(func(hostNS ns.NetNS) error {
-		hostVeth, contVeth0, err := ip.SetupVeth(ifName, mtu, hostNS)
+		hostVeth, contVeth0, err := ip.SetupVeth(ifName, "", mtu, hostNS)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}