diff --git a/init.d/net-online.in b/init.d/net-online.in
index 41910fa0..97baed04 100644
--- a/init.d/net-online.in
+++ b/init.d/net-online.in
@@ -44,9 +44,13 @@ start ()
 	ifcount=0
  	for dev in ${interfaces}; do
 		: $((ifcount += 1))
-		read carrier < /sys/class/net/$dev/carrier 2> /dev/null
+		carrier=
+		[ -e /sys/class/net/$dev/carrier ] &&
+			read carrier < /sys/class/net/$dev/carrier
 		[ $carrier -eq 1 ] && : $((carriers += 1))
-		read operstate < /sys/class/net/$dev/operstate 2> /dev/null
+		operstate=
+		[ -e /sys/class/net/$dev/operstate ] &&
+			read operstate < /sys/class/net/$dev/operstate 2> /dev/null
 		[ "$operstate" = up ] && : $((configured += 1))
 	done
 	[ $configured -eq $ifcount ] && [ $carriers -ge 1 ] && break