diff --git a/alterator-net-functions/alterator-net-functions b/alterator-net-functions/alterator-net-functions
index 6422d8e..ae0c8fe 100644
--- a/alterator-net-functions/alterator-net-functions
+++ b/alterator-net-functions/alterator-net-functions
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ chomp()
 next_iface()
 {
 	local name="$1";shift
+	local i="${1:-0}"
 	local path="$etcnet_iface_dir/$name"
-	local i=1	# not to interfere with dialup ppp0
 	while true; do
 		[ -d "$path$i" ] || { echo "$name$i" && break; }
 		i=$(($i + 1))
@@ -167,7 +167,8 @@ write_ppp_option1()
 
 next_ppp()
 {
-    next_iface ppp
+    # not to interfere with dialup ppp0
+    next_iface ppp 1
 }
 
 ### list various interface types