diff --git a/vm.py b/vm.py
index 6e127bfd1120b1e59d5d4302bf25072466fa4a37..3100bd94b01a9f6fe9d08e6a786ae357512b92fa 100755
--- a/vm.py
+++ b/vm.py
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ def modify_net(ucred, vm: str, wan: bool = False, lan: bool = False, pc: bool =
 def start(ucred, vm: str):
     vm = name_to_id(vm)
     assert has_write_acces(ucred, vm)
-    if open(vm_dir(vm)+"network/boot_id", "r").read().strip() != boot_id:
+    if not os.path.exists(vm_dir(vm)+"network/boot_id") or open(vm_dir(vm)+"network/boot_id", "r").read().strip() != boot_id:
         create_net(ucred, vm)
     r("VBoxManage", "startvm", vm, "--type=headless")
     if get_permanency(vm).startswith("init "):