diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c
index 4d776b78929c..0e8266f439e4 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c
@@ -118,19 +118,29 @@ error_close:
 	return -1;
 }
 
+int start_server_str(int family, int type, const char *addr_str, __u16 port,
+		     const struct network_helper_opts *opts)
+{
+	struct sockaddr_storage addr;
+	socklen_t addrlen;
+
+	if (!opts)
+		opts = &default_opts;
+
+	if (make_sockaddr(family, addr_str, port, &addr, &addrlen))
+		return -1;
+
+	return __start_server(type, (struct sockaddr *)&addr, addrlen, opts);
+}
+
 int start_server(int family, int type, const char *addr_str, __u16 port,
 		 int timeout_ms)
 {
 	struct network_helper_opts opts = {
 		.timeout_ms	= timeout_ms,
 	};
-	struct sockaddr_storage addr;
-	socklen_t addrlen;
 
-	if (make_sockaddr(family, addr_str, port, &addr, &addrlen))
-		return -1;
-
-	return __start_server(type, (struct sockaddr *)&addr, addrlen, &opts);
+	return start_server_str(family, type, addr_str, port, &opts);
 }
 
 static int reuseport_cb(int fd, void *opts)
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h
index 40011e0f584b..4e3e6afe7d3a 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ struct ipv6_packet {
 extern struct ipv6_packet pkt_v6;
 
 int settimeo(int fd, int timeout_ms);
+int start_server_str(int family, int type, const char *addr_str, __u16 port,
+		     const struct network_helper_opts *opts);
 int start_server(int family, int type, const char *addr, __u16 port,
 		 int timeout_ms);
 int *start_reuseport_server(int family, int type, const char *addr_str,