diff --git a/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/server/network/Node.scala b/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/server/network/Node.scala
index 9aa34ea99..ec598dbf3 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/server/network/Node.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/li/cil/oc/server/network/Node.scala
@@ -36,7 +36,12 @@ trait Node extends ImmutableNode {
     if (network == null) Iterable.empty[ImmutableNode].toSeq
     else network.neighbors(this)
 
-  def connect(node: ImmutableNode) = network.connect(this, node)
+  // a node should be added to a network before it can connect to a node
+  // but, sometimes other mods try to create nodes and connect them before
+  // the network is ready. we dont those things to crash here
+  // with typical nodes we are talking about components here
+  // which will be connected anyways when the network is created
+  def connect(node: ImmutableNode): Unit = if (network != null) network.connect(this, node)
 
   def disconnect(node: ImmutableNode) =
     if (network != null && isInSameNetwork(node)) network.disconnect(this, node)