diff --git a/pkg/drivers/kvm/network.go b/pkg/drivers/kvm/network.go
index b3b124f1e68c..ab8c41053d6b 100644
--- a/pkg/drivers/kvm/network.go
+++ b/pkg/drivers/kvm/network.go
@@ -43,6 +43,34 @@ const networkTmpl = `
 </network>
 `
 
+func setupNetwork(conn *libvirt.Connect, name string) error {
+	n, err := conn.LookupNetworkByName(defaultNetworkName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrapf(err, "checking network %s", name)
+	}
+	autostart, err := n.GetAutostart()
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrapf(err, "checking network %s autostart", name)
+	}
+	if !autostart {
+		if err := n.SetAutostart(true); err != nil {
+			return errors.Wrapf(err, "setting autostart for network %s", name)
+		}
+	}
+
+	active, err := n.IsActive()
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrapf(err, "checking network status for %s", name)
+	}
+	if !active {
+		if err := n.Create(); err != nil {
+			return errors.Wrapf(err, "starting network %s", name)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+
+}
+
 func (d *Driver) createNetwork() error {
 	if d.MAC == "" {
 		mac, err := randomMAC()
@@ -59,11 +87,16 @@ func (d *Driver) createNetwork() error {
 
 	tmpl := template.Must(template.New("network").Parse(networkTmpl))
 	var networkXML bytes.Buffer
-	err = tmpl.Execute(&networkXML, d)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := tmpl.Execute(&networkXML, d); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "executing network template")
 	}
 
+	// Start the default network
+	log.Infof("Setting up network %s", defaultNetworkName)
+	if err := setupNetwork(conn, defaultNetworkName); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	//Check if network already exists
 	if _, err := conn.LookupNetworkByName(d.PrivateNetwork); err == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -73,14 +106,13 @@ func (d *Driver) createNetwork() error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrapf(err, "defining network from xml: %s", networkXML.String())
 	}
-	err = network.SetAutostart(true)
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "setting network to autostart")
+	if err := network.Create(); err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrapf(err, "creating network %s", d.PrivateNetwork)
 	}
 
-	err = network.Create()
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "creating network")
+	log.Infof("Setting up network %s", d.PrivateNetwork)
+	if err := setupNetwork(conn, d.PrivateNetwork); err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
 	return nil