diff --git a/examples/dhcpd/target.c b/examples/dhcpd/target.c
index 601371e26..95997c6b8 100644
--- a/examples/dhcpd/target.c
+++ b/examples/dhcpd/target.c
@@ -127,6 +127,11 @@ int dhcpd_main(int argc, char *argv[])
   addr.s_addr = HTONL(CONFIG_EXAMPLES_DHCPD_NETMASK);
   netlib_set_ipv4netmask("eth0", &addr);
 
+  /* New versions of netlib_set_ipvXaddr will not bring the network up,
+   * So ensure the network is really up at this point. */
+
+  netlib_ifup("eth0");
+
   /* Then start the server */
 
   dhcpd_run();
diff --git a/examples/discover/discover_main.c b/examples/discover/discover_main.c
index 4be25419e..cf0b72c90 100644
--- a/examples/discover/discover_main.c
+++ b/examples/discover/discover_main.c
@@ -134,6 +134,11 @@ int discover_main(int argc, char *argv[])
   addr.s_addr = HTONL(CONFIG_EXAMPLES_DISCOVER_NETMASK);
   netlib_set_ipv4netmask("eth0", &addr);
 
+  /* New versions of netlib_set_ipvXaddr will not bring the network up,
+   * So ensure the network is really up at this point. */
+
+  netlib_ifup("eth0");
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_EXAMPLES_DISCOVER_DHCPC
   /* Get the MAC address of the NIC */
 
diff --git a/examples/sendmail/sendmail_main.c b/examples/sendmail/sendmail_main.c
index 37ddbf387..018bc827b 100644
--- a/examples/sendmail/sendmail_main.c
+++ b/examples/sendmail/sendmail_main.c
@@ -150,6 +150,11 @@ int sendmail_main(int argc, char *argv[])
   addr.s_addr = HTONL(CONFIG_EXAMPLES_SENDMAIL_NETMASK);
   netlib_set_ipv4netmask("eth0", &addr);
 
+  /* New versions of netlib_set_ipvXaddr will not bring the network up,
+   * So ensure the network is really up at this point. */
+
+  netlib_ifup("eth0");
+
   /* Then send the mail */
 
   net_ipaddr(addr.s_addr, 127, 0, 0, 1);
diff --git a/examples/tcpecho/tcpecho_main.c b/examples/tcpecho/tcpecho_main.c
index 1172f87e1..87644abe5 100644
--- a/examples/tcpecho/tcpecho_main.c
+++ b/examples/tcpecho/tcpecho_main.c
@@ -143,6 +143,11 @@ static int tcpecho_netsetup()
   addr.s_addr = HTONL(CONFIG_EXAMPLES_TCPECHO_NETMASK);
   netlib_set_ipv4netmask("eth0", &addr);
 
+  /* New versions of netlib_set_ipvXaddr will not bring the network up,
+   * So ensure the network is really up at this point. */
+
+  netlib_ifup("eth0");
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_EXAMPLES_TCPECHO_DHCPC
   /* Get the MAC address of the NIC */
 
diff --git a/examples/udp/target.c b/examples/udp/target.c
index 911f94f46..749d74e02 100644
--- a/examples/udp/target.c
+++ b/examples/udp/target.c
@@ -160,6 +160,11 @@ int udp_main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 #endif /* CONFIG_EXAMPLES_UDP_IPv6 */
 
+  /* New versions of netlib_set_ipvXaddr will not bring the network up,
+   * So ensure the network is really up at this point. */
+
+  netlib_ifup("eth0");
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_EXAMPLES_UDP_SERVER
   recv_server();
 #else
diff --git a/nshlib/nsh_netinit.c b/nshlib/nsh_netinit.c
index 3f537cf89..8b344f850 100644
--- a/nshlib/nsh_netinit.c
+++ b/nshlib/nsh_netinit.c
@@ -358,6 +358,11 @@ static void nsh_netinit_configure(void)
   netlib_set_ipv4dnsaddr(&addr);
 #endif
 
+  /* New versions of netlib_set_ipvXaddr will not bring the network up,
+   * So ensure the network is really up at this point. */
+
+  netlib_ifup("eth0");
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_WIRELESS_WAPI
   /* Associate the wlan with an access point. */