diff --git a/nshlib/nsh_telnetd.c b/nshlib/nsh_telnetd.c
index 9105e2377..05159931e 100644
--- a/nshlib/nsh_telnetd.c
+++ b/nshlib/nsh_telnetd.c
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 
+#include "netutils/netinit.h"
 #include "netutils/telnetd.h"
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_TELNET_CHARACTER_MODE
@@ -266,6 +267,12 @@ int nsh_telnetstart(sa_family_t family)
       nsh_initscript(vtbl);
 #endif
 
+#if defined(CONFIG_NSH_NETINIT) && !defined(CONFIG_NSH_CONSOLE)
+      /* Bring up the network */
+
+      netinit_bringup();
+#endif
+
       /* Perform architecture-specific final-initialization(if configured) */
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_NSH_ARCHINIT) && \