diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/networking/thelounge.nix b/nixos/modules/services/networking/thelounge.nix
index a9d4447cda32..d46aef2f32e5 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/networking/thelounge.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/networking/thelounge.nix
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ in
     systemd.services.thelounge = {
       description = "The Lounge web IRC client";
       wantedBy = [ "multi-user.target" ];
+      after = [ "network-online.target" ];
+      wants = [ "network-online.target" ];
       preStart = "ln -sf ${pkgs.writeText "config.js" configJsData} ${dataDir}/config.js";
       environment.THELOUNGE_PACKAGES = mkIf (cfg.plugins != [ ]) "${plugins}";
       serviceConfig = {