diff --git a/kernel-src/include/kernel/net.h b/kernel-src/include/kernel/net.h
index e4f321db..7f9029a9 100644
--- a/kernel-src/include/kernel/net.h
+++ b/kernel-src/include/kernel/net.h
@@ -35,6 +35,15 @@ typedef struct {
 #define NETDEV_FLAGS_RUNNING 0x40
 #define NETDEV_FLAGS_WLAN 0x80
 
+struct netdev_t;
+
+typedef struct {
+	int (*allocdesc)(struct netdev_t *netdev, size_t requestedsize, netdesc_t *desc);
+	int (*freedesc)(struct netdev_t *netdev, netdesc_t *desc);
+	// consumes desc regardless of the returned status
+	int (*sendpacket)(struct netdev_t *netdev, netdesc_t desc, mac_t targetmac, int proto);
+} netdevops_t;
+
 typedef struct netdev_t {
 	mac_t mac;
 	int ifindex;
@@ -43,10 +52,7 @@ typedef struct netdev_t {
 	int ipcurrid; // XXX This is defined as something per peer. However, having only one of these *should* work for most cases
 	hashtable_t arpcache;
 	short flags;
-	int (*allocdesc)(struct netdev_t *netdev, size_t requestedsize, netdesc_t *desc);
-	int (*freedesc)(struct netdev_t *netdev, netdesc_t *desc);
-	// consumes desc regardless of the returned status
-	int (*sendpacket)(struct netdev_t *_internal, netdesc_t desc, mac_t targetmac, int proto);
+	const netdevops_t *ops;
 } netdev_t;
 
 typedef struct {
@@ -83,7 +89,6 @@ void arp_init();
 void ipv4_init();
 void udp_init();
 void tcp_init();
-void netdev_init();
 void loopback_init();
 netdev_t *loopback_device();
 void udp_process(netdev_t *netdev, void *buffer, uint32_t ip);
@@ -96,6 +101,8 @@ size_t ipv4_getmtu(uint32_t ip);
 uint32_t ipv4_getnetdevip(uint32_t ip);
 void ipv4_process(netdev_t *netdev, void *nextbuff, size_t size);
 int ipv4_addroute(netdev_t *netdev, uint32_t addr, uint32_t gateway, uint32_t mask, int weight);
+int netdev_initialize(netdev_t *netdev, const netdevops_t *ops, size_t mtu, mac_t mac);
+void netdev_destroy(netdev_t *netdev);
 int netdev_register(netdev_t *netdev, char *name);
 netdev_t *netdev_getdev(char *name);
 netdev_t *netdev_from_minor(uint16_t minor);
diff --git a/kernel-src/io/net/arp.c b/kernel-src/io/net/arp.c
index 1e37b895..62ccdbc4 100644
--- a/kernel-src/io/net/arp.c
+++ b/kernel-src/io/net/arp.c
@@ -140,13 +140,13 @@ static void send_reply(netdev_t *netdev, uint32_t ip, mac_t mac) {
 	memcpy(&frame.srchw, &netdev->mac, sizeof(mac_t));
 	memcpy(&frame.dsthw, &mac, sizeof(mac_t));
 	netdesc_t desc;
-	int e = netdev->allocdesc(netdev, sizeof(arpframe_t), &desc);
+	int e = netdev->ops->allocdesc(netdev, sizeof(arpframe_t), &desc);
 	if (e)
 		return;
 
 	memcpy((void *)((uintptr_t)desc.address + desc.curroffset), &frame, sizeof(frame));
 
-	netdev->sendpacket(netdev, desc, mac, ETH_PROTO_ARP);
+	netdev->ops->sendpacket(netdev, desc, mac, ETH_PROTO_ARP);
 }
 
 static void handlerthreadfn() {
@@ -229,13 +229,13 @@ static int sendrequest(netdev_t *netdev, uint32_t ip) {
 
 	memcpy(&frame.srchw, &netdev->mac, sizeof(mac_t));
 	netdesc_t desc;
-	int e = netdev->allocdesc(netdev, sizeof(arpframe_t), &desc);
+	int e = netdev->ops->allocdesc(netdev, sizeof(arpframe_t), &desc);
 	if (e)
 		return e;
 
 	memcpy((void *)((uintptr_t)desc.address + desc.curroffset), &frame, sizeof(frame));
 
-	e = netdev->sendpacket(netdev, desc, NET_BROADCAST_MAC, ETH_PROTO_ARP);
+	e = netdev->ops->sendpacket(netdev, desc, NET_BROADCAST_MAC, ETH_PROTO_ARP);
 	return e;
 }
 
diff --git a/kernel-src/io/net/ipv4.c b/kernel-src/io/net/ipv4.c
index d8a79e12..3c1d6a49 100644
--- a/kernel-src/io/net/ipv4.c
+++ b/kernel-src/io/net/ipv4.c
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ static int dispatch_fragment(netdev_t *netdev, netdesc_t fragdesc,
 	frame.framechecksum = cpu_to_be_w(checksum(&frame, sizeof(frame)));
 
 	memcpy((void *)((uintptr_t)fragdesc.address + fragdesc.curroffset), &frame, sizeof(ipv4frame_t));
-	return netdev->sendpacket(netdev, fragdesc, mac, ETH_PROTO_IP);
+	return netdev->ops->sendpacket(netdev, fragdesc, mac, ETH_PROTO_IP);
 }
 
 void ipv4_process(netdev_t *netdev, void *buff, size_t size) {
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ int ipv4_sendpacket(void *buffer, size_t packetsize, uint32_t ip, int proto, net
 	for (int i = 0; i < fragmentcount; ++i) {
 		size_t fragmentlen = (i == fragmentcount - 1) ? packetsize - devfragmentsize * (fragmentcount - 1) : devfragmentsize;
 		netdesc_t fragdesc;
-		int e = netdev->allocdesc(netdev, fragmentlen + sizeof(ipv4frame_t), &fragdesc);
+		int e = netdev->ops->allocdesc(netdev, fragmentlen + sizeof(ipv4frame_t), &fragdesc);
 		if (e)
 			return e;
 
diff --git a/kernel-src/io/net/loopback.c b/kernel-src/io/net/loopback.c
index 05868f89..6c42510b 100644
--- a/kernel-src/io/net/loopback.c
+++ b/kernel-src/io/net/loopback.c
@@ -43,24 +43,23 @@ static int loopback_sendpacket(netdev_t *netdev, netdesc_t desc, mac_t targetmac
 	eth_process(netdev, desc.address, desc.size);
 	interrupt_loweripl(ipl);
 
-	return netdev->freedesc(netdev, &desc);
+	return netdev->ops->freedesc(netdev, &desc);
 }
 
+static const netdevops_t loopback_ops = {
+	.allocdesc = loopback_allocdesc,
+	.freedesc = loopback_freedesc,
+	.sendpacket = loopback_sendpacket
+};
+
 netdev_t *loopback_device() {
 	return &loopbacknetdev;
 }
 
 void loopback_init() {
-	loopbacknetdev.mtu = 30000;
-	loopbacknetdev.sendpacket = loopback_sendpacket;
-	loopbacknetdev.allocdesc = loopback_allocdesc;
-	loopbacknetdev.freedesc = loopback_freedesc;
+	__assert(netdev_initialize(&loopbacknetdev, &loopback_ops, 30000, (mac_t){0}) == 0);
 	loopbacknetdev.ip = 0x7f000001;
 	loopbacknetdev.flags = NETDEV_FLAGS_UP | NETDEV_FLAGS_LOOPBACK | NETDEV_FLAGS_RUNNING;
-	__assert(hashtable_init(&loopbacknetdev.arpcache, 30) == 0);
-
-	for (int i = 0; i < 6; ++i)
-		loopbacknetdev.mac.address[i] = 0;
 
 	__assert(netdev_register(&loopbacknetdev, "lo") == 0);
 }
diff --git a/kernel-src/io/net/netdev.c b/kernel-src/io/net/netdev.c
index d8f96117..b0b799d3 100644
--- a/kernel-src/io/net/netdev.c
+++ b/kernel-src/io/net/netdev.c
@@ -250,6 +250,21 @@ netdev_t *netdev_from_minor(uint16_t minor) {
 	return minors[minor];
 }
 
+int netdev_initialize(netdev_t *netdev, const netdevops_t *ops, size_t mtu, mac_t mac) {
+	int error = hashtable_init(&netdev->arpcache, 30);
+	if (error)
+		return error;
+
+	netdev->ops = ops;
+	netdev->mtu = mtu;
+	netdev->mac = mac;
+	return 0;
+}
+
+void netdev_destroy(netdev_t *netdev) {
+	hashtable_destroy(&netdev->arpcache);
+}
+
 int netdev_register(netdev_t *netdev, char *name) {
 	// TODO: better allocation strategy (copy wlan's?)
 	int minor = __atomic_fetch_add(&current_minor, 1, __ATOMIC_RELAXED);
diff --git a/kernel-src/io/net/raw.c b/kernel-src/io/net/raw.c
index 2918ff8b..cfe64046 100644
--- a/kernel-src/io/net/raw.c
+++ b/kernel-src/io/net/raw.c
@@ -121,19 +121,19 @@ static int raw_send(socket_t *socket_handle, sockdesc_t *sockdesc) {
 		goto leave;
 	}
 
-	error = socket->netdev_binding->allocdesc(socket->netdev_binding, sockdesc->count, &desc);
+	error = socket->netdev_binding->ops->allocdesc(socket->netdev_binding, sockdesc->count, &desc);
 	if (error)
 		goto leave;
 
 	error = iovec_iterator_copy_to_buffer(sockdesc->iovec_iterator, (void *)((uintptr_t)desc.address + desc.curroffset), sockdesc->count);
 	if (error) {
-		socket->netdev_binding->freedesc(socket->netdev_binding, &desc);
+		socket->netdev_binding->ops->freedesc(socket->netdev_binding, &desc);
 		goto leave;
 	}
 
 	mac_t target;
 	memcpy(&target, sockdesc->addr->raw.mac, sizeof(target));
-	error = socket->netdev_binding->sendpacket(socket->netdev_binding, desc, target, socket->proto);
+	error = socket->netdev_binding->ops->sendpacket(socket->netdev_binding, desc, target, socket->proto);
 	if (error == 0)
 		sockdesc->donecount = sockdesc->count;
 
diff --git a/kernel-src/io/net/rtl8169.c b/kernel-src/io/net/rtl8169.c
index d03f9611..8edbb038 100644
--- a/kernel-src/io/net/rtl8169.c
+++ b/kernel-src/io/net/rtl8169.c
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ static int rtl8169_sendpacket(netdev_t *internal, netdesc_t desc, mac_t target,
 	spinlock_release_lower_ipl(&netdev->tx_lock, ipl);
 	sched_yield();
 
-	return internal->freedesc(internal, &desc);
+	return internal->ops->freedesc(internal, &desc);
 }
 
 // requested size doesn't account for ethernet header
@@ -215,6 +215,12 @@ static int rtl8169_freedesc(netdev_t *netdev, netdesc_t *desc) {
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static const netdevops_t rtl8169_ops = {
+	.allocdesc = rtl8169_allocdesc,
+	.freedesc = rtl8169_freedesc,
+	.sendpacket = rtl8169_sendpacket
+};
+
 static int controller_id = 0;
 
 static void init_controller(pcienum_t *pci_enum) {
@@ -324,12 +330,7 @@ static void init_controller(pcienum_t *pci_enum) {
 
 	rtl8169dev_t *netdev = alloc(sizeof(rtl8169dev_t));
 	__assert(netdev);
-	netdev->netdev.mtu = 1500;
-	netdev->netdev.sendpacket = rtl8169_sendpacket;
-	netdev->netdev.allocdesc = rtl8169_allocdesc;
-	netdev->netdev.freedesc = rtl8169_freedesc;
-	memcpy(&netdev->netdev.mac, &mac, sizeof(mac));
-	__assert(hashtable_init(&netdev->netdev.arpcache, 30) == 0);
+	__assert(netdev_initialize(&netdev->netdev, &rtl8169_ops, 1500, mac) == 0);
 
 	netdev->tx_ring = tx_ring;
 	netdev->rx_ring = rx_ring;
diff --git a/kernel-src/io/net/vionet.c b/kernel-src/io/net/vionet.c
index 1c48fe76..bbe3b32b 100644
--- a/kernel-src/io/net/vionet.c
+++ b/kernel-src/io/net/vionet.c
@@ -151,9 +151,15 @@ static int vionet_sendpacket(netdev_t *internal, netdesc_t desc, mac_t targetmac
 	sched_yield();
 
 	interrupt_set(intstatus);
-	return internal->freedesc(internal, &desc);
+	return internal->ops->freedesc(internal, &desc);
 }
 
+static const netdevops_t vionet_ops = {
+	.allocdesc = vionet_allocdesc,
+	.freedesc = vionet_freedesc,
+	.sendpacket = vionet_sendpacket
+};
+
 int vionet_newdevice(viodevice_t *viodevice) {
 	static int id = 0;
 	volatile vionetconfig_t *vionetconfig = viodevice->devconfig;
@@ -174,13 +180,12 @@ int vionet_newdevice(viodevice_t *viodevice) {
 
 	vionetdev_t *netdev = alloc(sizeof(vionetdev_t));
 	__assert(netdev);
+	mac_t mac;
+	for (int i = 0; i < 6; ++i)
+		mac.address[i] = vionetconfig->mac[i];
+	__assert(netdev_initialize(&netdev->netdev, &vionet_ops, 1500, mac) == 0);
 	netdev->viodevice = viodevice;
 	netdev->id = id++;
-	netdev->netdev.mtu = 1500;
-	netdev->netdev.sendpacket = vionet_sendpacket;
-	netdev->netdev.allocdesc = vionet_allocdesc;
-	netdev->netdev.freedesc = vionet_freedesc;
-	__assert(hashtable_init(&netdev->netdev.arpcache, 30) == 0);
 	dpc_prepare(&netdev->rxdpc, rx_dpc);
 	dpc_prepare(&netdev->txdpc, tx_dpc);
 
@@ -225,9 +230,6 @@ int vionet_newdevice(viodevice_t *viodevice) {
 		*netdev->rxqueue.notify = 0;
 	}
 
-	for (int i = 0; i < 6; ++i)
-		netdev->netdev.mac.address[i] = vionetconfig->mac[i];
-
 	printf("vionet%d: mac: %02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x\n", netdev->id, netdev->netdev.mac.address[0], netdev->netdev.mac.address[1], netdev->netdev.mac.address[2], netdev->netdev.mac.address[3], netdev->netdev.mac.address[4], netdev->netdev.mac.address[5]);
 
 	char name[10];
diff --git a/kernel-src/io/net/wlan.c b/kernel-src/io/net/wlan.c
index 21eb7abc..08bc07e1 100644
--- a/kernel-src/io/net/wlan.c
+++ b/kernel-src/io/net/wlan.c
@@ -25,11 +25,6 @@ typedef struct {
 // TODO: handle hotplug
 // TODO: in u80211_drv *_tx_buffer ops, pass device handle
 // TODO: change how netdesc_t is handled in kernel overall (?)
-// TODO: general netdev cleanup:
-// - use struct ops instead of having function pointers in netdev struct
-// - proper initialize() function
-// - proper destroy() function
-
 static uint64_t id_bitmap;
 static int allocate_id(void) {
 	for (;;) {
@@ -228,28 +223,32 @@ static int wlan_send_packet(netdev_t *netdev, netdesc_t desc, mac_t target, int
 	return u80211_status_to_errno(u80211_transmit_buffer(wlan->u80211_device, &descriptor));
 }
 
+static const netdevops_t netdev_ops = {
+	.allocdesc = wlan_alloc_desc,
+	.freedesc = wlan_free_desc,
+	.sendpacket = wlan_send_packet
+};
+
 int wlan_register(void *handle, const u80211_drv_device_metadata_t *drv_metadata, const u80211_drv_device_ops_t *drv_ops, u80211_drv_network_device_handle_t *network_device) {
 	wlan_device_t *wlan = alloc(sizeof(wlan_device_t));
 	if (wlan == NULL)
 		return ENOMEM;
+	mac_t mac;
+	memcpy(&mac, &drv_metadata->mac_address, sizeof(mac));
+	int error = netdev_initialize(&wlan->netdev, &netdev_ops, WLAN_MTU, mac);
+	if (error) {
+		free(wlan);
+		return error;
+	}
 
 	wlan->driver_handle = handle;
 	wlan->ops = drv_ops;
 
-	wlan->netdev.mtu = WLAN_MTU;
-	wlan->netdev.sendpacket = wlan_send_packet;
-	wlan->netdev.allocdesc = wlan_alloc_desc;
-	wlan->netdev.freedesc = wlan_free_desc;
 	wlan->netdev.flags = NETDEV_FLAGS_WLAN | NETDEV_FLAGS_UP | NETDEV_FLAGS_BROADCAST | NETDEV_FLAGS_RUNNING;
-	memcpy(&wlan->netdev.mac, &drv_metadata->mac_address, 6);
-	if (hashtable_init(&wlan->netdev.arpcache, 30)) {
-		free(wlan);
-		return ENOMEM;
-	}
 
 	wlan->id = allocate_id();
 	if (wlan->id == -1) {
-		hashtable_destroy(&wlan->netdev.arpcache);
+		netdev_destroy(&wlan->netdev);
 		free(wlan);
 		return EAGAIN;
 	}
@@ -261,18 +260,18 @@ int wlan_register(void *handle, const u80211_drv_device_metadata_t *drv_metadata
 	int status = u80211_register_device(&metadata, &ops, wlan, &wlan->u80211_device);
 	if (status != U80211_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
 		free_id(wlan->id);
-		hashtable_destroy(&wlan->netdev.arpcache);
+		netdev_destroy(&wlan->netdev);
 		free(wlan);
 		return u80211_status_to_errno(status);
 	}
 
 	char name[10];
 	snprintf(name, 10, "wlan%d", wlan->id);
-	int error = netdev_register(&wlan->netdev, name);
+	error = netdev_register(&wlan->netdev, name);
 	if (error) {
 		u80211_unregister_device(wlan->u80211_device);
 		free_id(wlan->id);
-		hashtable_destroy(&wlan->netdev.arpcache);
+		netdev_destroy(&wlan->netdev);
 		free(wlan);
 		return error;
 	}