diff --git a/conf.d/network.Linux b/conf.d/network.Linux
index 1b6d1214..b945a7ba 100644
--- a/conf.d/network.Linux
+++ b/conf.d/network.Linux
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 # On the other hand, ip (iproute2) is quite powerful and is also supported
 #ip_eth0="192.168.0.10/24; 192.168.10.10/24"
 
+# You can also use ip to add the default route.
+#defaultiproute="192.168.0.1"
+
 # ip doesn't handle MTU like ifconfig, but we can do it like so
 #ifup_eth0="ip link set \$int mtu 1500"
 
diff --git a/init.d/network.in b/init.d/network.in
index 7bbe2535..0d53f14d 100644
--- a/init.d/network.in
+++ b/init.d/network.in
@@ -255,6 +255,10 @@ start()
 			route add default $defaultroute
 		fi
 		eend $?
+	elif [ -n "$defaultiproute" ]; then
+		ebegin "Setting default route $defauliptroute"
+		ip route add default via $defaultiproute
+		eend $?
 	fi
 
 	return 0