diff --git a/hw/mips_r4k.c b/hw/mips_r4k.c
index 2b47ef5849..5f51f874c4 100644
--- a/hw/mips_r4k.c
+++ b/hw/mips_r4k.c
@@ -272,7 +272,8 @@ void mips_r4k_init (int ram_size, int vga_ram_size, int boot_device,
     vga_initialize(NULL, ds, phys_ram_base + ram_size, ram_size, 
                    vga_ram_size, 0, 0);
 
-    isa_ne2000_init(0x300, 9, &nd_table[0]);
+    if (nd_table[0].vlan)
+        isa_ne2000_init(0x300, 9, &nd_table[0]);
 }
 
 QEMUMachine mips_machine = {