diff --git a/network.c b/network.c
index bee6dc4..786e531 100644
--- a/network.c
+++ b/network.c
@@ -597,12 +597,16 @@ static enum return_type intf_select_and_up(void)
 {
 	static struct interface_info intf[20];
 	static int num_interfaces = 0;
+	static int already_done = 0;
 	struct interface_info * sel_intf = NULL;
 	int i;
 	enum return_type results;
-	char * iface = interface_select();
-	
-	if (iface == NULL)
+	char * iface = NULL;
+
+
+	if (already_done) return RETURN_OK;
+
+	if ((iface = interface_select()) == NULL)
 		return RETURN_BACK;
 	
 	for (i = 0; i < num_interfaces ; i++)
@@ -618,13 +622,18 @@ static enum return_type intf_select_and_up(void)
 	
 	results = bringup_networking(sel_intf);
 
-	if (results == RETURN_OK)
+	if (results == RETURN_OK) {
 		save_netinfo(sel_intf);
-	
+		already_done = 1;
+	}
+
 	return results;
 }
 
-
+enum return_type net_prepare(void)
+{
+	return (*(get_auto_value("network")) == '\0') ? RETURN_OK : intf_select_and_up();
+}
 
 enum return_type nfs_prepare(void)
 {
diff --git a/network.h b/network.h
index 97a4faa..d477e10 100644
--- a/network.h
+++ b/network.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 #include <netinet/ip.h>
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 
-
+enum return_type net_prepare(void);
 enum return_type nfs_prepare(void);
 enum return_type ftp_prepare(void);
 enum return_type http_prepare(void);
diff --git a/stage1.c b/stage1.c
index c258824..a9dd0e2 100644
--- a/stage1.c
+++ b/stage1.c
@@ -272,6 +272,12 @@ static enum return_type method_select_and_prepare(void)
 #endif
 	means[i] = NULL;
 	update_splash();
+
+#ifndef DISABLE_NETWORK
+	/* if requested by auto "network" param, bring networking up, regardless of method */
+	net_prepare();
+#endif
+
 	results = ask_from_list_auto("Please choose the installation method.", means, &choice, "method", means_auto);
 
 	if (results != RETURN_OK)