diff --git a/init.d/Makefile b/init.d/Makefile
index 04e09a70..e7e2d861 100644
--- a/init.d/Makefile
+++ b/init.d/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 DIR=	${INITDIR}
-SRCS=	bootmisc.in fsck.in hostname.in local.in localmount.in netmount.in \
-	root.in savecache.in swap.in swapfiles.in \
+SRCS=	bootmisc.in fsck.in hostname.in local.in localmount.in loopback.in \
+	netmount.in root.in savecache.in swap.in swapfiles.in \
 	tmpfiles.setup.in swclock.in sysctl.in urandom.in ${SRCS-${OS}}
 BIN=	${OBJS}
 
diff --git a/init.d/loopback.in b/init.d/loopback.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e5cc118b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/init.d/loopback.in
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#!@SBINDIR@/runscript
+# Copyright (c) 2013 William Hubbs <w.d.hubbs@gmail.com>
+# Released under the 2-clause BSD license.
+
+description="Configures the loopback interface."
+
+depend()
+{
+	return 0
+}
+
+start()
+{
+	if [ "$RC_UNAME" = Linux ]; then
+		ebegin "Bringing up network interface lo"
+		if type ip > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+			ip addr add 127.0.0.1/8 dev lo brd + scope host
+			ip route add 127.0.0.0/8 dev lo scope host
+			ip link set lo up
+		else
+			ifconfig lo 127.0.0.1 netmask 255.0.0.0
+			route add -net 127.0.0.0 netmask 255.0.0.0 gw 127.0.0.1
+		fi
+	else
+		ebegin "Bringing up network interface lo0"
+		ifconfig lo0 127.0.0.1 netmask 255.0.0.0
+		route -q add -inet 127.0.0.0 -netmask 255.0.0.0 127.0.0.1
+	fi
+	eend $?
+}
+
+stop()
+{
+	return 0
+}
diff --git a/init.d/network.in b/init.d/network.in
index 898b0a8e..5a87a841 100644
--- a/init.d/network.in
+++ b/init.d/network.in
@@ -223,15 +223,6 @@ start()
 
 	einfo "Starting network"
 	routeflush
-	if [ "$RC_UNAME" = "Linux" ]; then
-		ifconfig lo 127.0.0.1 netmask 255.0.0.0 || cr=1
-		route add -net 127.0.0.0 netmask 255.0.0.0 \
-			gw 127.0.0.1 reject 2>/dev/null
-	else
-		ifconfig lo0 127.0.0.1 netmask 255.0.0.0 || cr=1
-		route -q add -inet 127.0.0.0 -netmask 255.0.0.0 \
-			127.0.0.1 -reject || cr=1
-	fi
 	eindent
 	for int in $(interfaces); do
 		local func= cf=
@@ -330,6 +321,10 @@ stop()
 	routeflush
 	eindent
 	for int in $(reverse $(interfaces u)); do
+		case "$int" in
+			lo|lo0) continue ;;
+			*) ;;
+		esac
 		intv=$(shell_var "$int")
 		eval downcmd=\$ifdown_$intv
 		eval cmd=\$ip_$intv
diff --git a/runlevels/Makefile b/runlevels/Makefile
index 7bcf29fe..6eb84ca8 100644
--- a/runlevels/Makefile
+++ b/runlevels/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-BOOT=		bootmisc fsck hostname localmount \
+BOOT=		bootmisc fsck hostname localmount loopback \
 		root swap swapfiles sysctl urandom ${BOOT-${OS}}
 DEFAULT=	local netmount
 SHUTDOWN=	savecache ${SHUTDOWN-${OS}}