diff --git a/etc/netstart b/etc/netstart
index 744e5f859042..d0a28b1b2ae3 100755
--- a/etc/netstart
+++ b/etc/netstart
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ ifconfig ne0 inet $hostname netmask my-netmask
 ifconfig en0 inet $hostname netmask my-netmask
 
 # set the address for the loopback interface
-ifconfig lo0 inet localhost
+ifconfig lo0 inet 127.0.0.1
 
 # use loopback, not the wire
 route add $hostname localhost