diff --git a/init.d/net-online.in b/init.d/net-online.in
index 45041c80..41910fa0 100644
--- a/init.d/net-online.in
+++ b/init.d/net-online.in
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ get_interfaces()
 start ()
 {
 	local carriers configured dev gateway ifcount infinite
-	local rc state x
+	local carrier operstate rc
 
 	ebegin "Checking to see if the network is online"
 	rc=0
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ start ()
 	ifcount=0
  	for dev in ${interfaces}; do
 		: $((ifcount += 1))
-		read x < /sys/class/net/$dev/carrier
-		[ $x -eq 1 ] && : $((carriers += 1))
-		read x < /sys/class/net/$dev/operstate
-		[ "$x" = up ] && : $((configured += 1))
+		read carrier < /sys/class/net/$dev/carrier 2> /dev/null
+		[ $carrier -eq 1 ] && : $((carriers += 1))
+		read operstate < /sys/class/net/$dev/operstate 2> /dev/null
+		[ "$operstate" = up ] && : $((configured += 1))
 	done
 	[ $configured -eq $ifcount ] && [ $carriers -ge 1 ] && break
 	sleep 1