diff --git a/modules/base/network.nix b/modules/base/network.nix
index 41c9959..da4fad5 100644
--- a/modules/base/network.nix
+++ b/modules/base/network.nix
@@ -1,14 +1,10 @@
-{ lib, pkgs, ... }: {
+{ ... }: {
   networking = {
     firewall = {
       allowedTCPPorts = [ 1234 1337 8000 8080 ];
       allowedUDPPorts = [ 1234 1337 8000 8080 ];
     };
     nameservers = [ "127.0.0.53" ]; # resolved stub resolver
-    networkmanager = {
-      enable = true;
-      dns = lib.mkForce "none";
-    };
   };
 
   # TODO: these systemd networkd settings will be the default once
diff --git a/modules/desktop/default.nix b/modules/desktop/default.nix
index acddb14..d311cb1 100644
--- a/modules/desktop/default.nix
+++ b/modules/desktop/default.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 { pkgs, ... }: {
   imports = [
     ./firefox.nix
+    ./network.nix
     ./ssh.nix
     ./sway.nix
   ];
diff --git a/modules/desktop/network.nix b/modules/desktop/network.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6dffac8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/desktop/network.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{ lib, ... }: {
+  networking = {
+    networkmanager = {
+      enable = true;
+      dns = lib.mkForce "none";
+    };
+  };
+
+  # systemd-networkd-wait-online can timeout and fail if there are no
+  # network interfaces available for it to manage. When systemd-networkd is
+  # enabled but a different service is responsible for managing the system’s
+  # internet connection (for example, NetworkManager), this service is unnecessary and can be disabled.
+  # https://search.nixos.org/options?channel=23.05&show=systemd.network.wait-online.enable
+  systemd.network.wait-online.enable = false;
+}