diff --git a/devops/shell.py b/devops/shell.py
index 834c9e81..8a14f711 100644
--- a/devops/shell.py
+++ b/devops/shell.py
@@ -417,6 +417,9 @@ class Shell(object):
             self.env.get_admin_ip()))
 
     def do_node_start(self):
+        # ensure networks are running prior to starting a node
+        for group in self.env.get_groups():
+            group.start_networks()
         # TODO(astudenov): add positional argument instead of
         # checking that option is present
         self.check_param_show_help(self.params.node_name)
diff --git a/devops/tests/test_shell.py b/devops/tests/test_shell.py
index 13b2d7f3..ab630079 100644
--- a/devops/tests/test_shell.py
+++ b/devops/tests/test_shell.py
@@ -679,9 +679,13 @@ class TestShell(unittest.TestCase):
             iface='eth1')
 
     def test_node_start(self):
+        group = mock.Mock(spec=models.Group)
+        self.env_mocks['env1'].get_groups.return_value = [group]
+
         sh = shell.Shell(['node-start', 'env1', '-N', 'slave-01'])
         sh.execute()
 
+        group.start_networks.assert_called_once_with()
         self.client_inst.get_env.assert_called_once_with('env1')
         self.nodes['env1']['slave-01'].start.assert_called_once_with()