diff --git a/tcp_tests/templates/cookied-mcp-pike-dpdk/underlay.yaml b/tcp_tests/templates/cookied-mcp-pike-dpdk/underlay.yaml
index 1097d70..decee43 100644
--- a/tcp_tests/templates/cookied-mcp-pike-dpdk/underlay.yaml
+++ b/tcp_tests/templates/cookied-mcp-pike-dpdk/underlay.yaml
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@
             address_pool: external-pool01
             dhcp: true
             forward:
-              mode: nat
+              mode: route
 
 
         group_volumes: