diff --git a/panda/src/net/config_net.cxx b/panda/src/net/config_net.cxx
index f622465e28..4d621a60c3 100644
--- a/panda/src/net/config_net.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/net/config_net.cxx
@@ -13,6 +13,25 @@ Configure(config_net);
 NotifyCategoryDef(net, "");
 
 ConfigureFn(config_net) {
+  init_libnet();
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: init_libnet
+//  Description: Initializes the library.  This must be called at
+//               least once before any of the functions or classes in
+//               this library can be used.  Normally it will be
+//               called by the static initializers and need not be
+//               called explicitly, but special cases exist.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void
+init_libnet() {
+  static bool initialized = false;
+  if (initialized) {
+    return;
+  }
+  initialized = true;
+
   NetDatagram::init_type();
 }
 
diff --git a/panda/src/net/config_net.h b/panda/src/net/config_net.h
index 20b744ee8e..da2f5289f1 100644
--- a/panda/src/net/config_net.h
+++ b/panda/src/net/config_net.h
@@ -17,4 +17,7 @@ extern int get_net_max_write_queue();
 extern int get_net_max_response_queue();
 extern bool get_net_error_abort();
 
+extern EXPCL_PANDA void init_libnet();
+
 #endif
+