diff --git a/src/posix/platform/netif.cpp b/src/posix/platform/netif.cpp
index e0a4c49b87a6..ca9cb1286f95 100644
--- a/src/posix/platform/netif.cpp
+++ b/src/posix/platform/netif.cpp
@@ -1232,7 +1232,11 @@ static void processTransmit(otInstance *aInstance)
         message = otIp6NewMessage(aInstance, &settings);
 #endif
         VerifyOrExit(message != nullptr, error = OT_ERROR_NO_BUFS);
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_REFERENCE_DEVICE_ENABLE
+        otMessageSetOrigin(message, OT_MESSAGE_ORIGIN_HOST_TRUSTED);
+#else
         otMessageSetOrigin(message, OT_MESSAGE_ORIGIN_HOST_UNTRUSTED);
+#endif
     }
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_POSIX_LOG_TUN_PACKETS