diff --git a/pkg/drivers/kvm/network.go b/pkg/drivers/kvm/network.go
index 7ea38a2aa666..e8fe3b72e157 100644
--- a/pkg/drivers/kvm/network.go
+++ b/pkg/drivers/kvm/network.go
@@ -89,10 +89,9 @@ func (d *Driver) ensureNetwork() error {
 
 	// network: default
 
-	// Start the default network
 	// It is assumed that the libvirt/kvm installation has already created this network
-	log.Infof("Ensuring network %s is active", defaultNetworkName)
-	if err := setupNetwork(conn, defaultNetworkName); err != nil {
+	log.Infof("Ensuring network %s is active", d.Network)
+	if err := setupNetwork(conn, d.Network); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/test/integration/start_stop_delete_test.go b/test/integration/start_stop_delete_test.go
index eb2ec5f6450f..7a5b9392e3f2 100644
--- a/test/integration/start_stop_delete_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/start_stop_delete_test.go
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ func TestStartStop(t *testing.T) {
 		{"nocache_oldest", []string{
 			"--cache-images=false",
 			fmt.Sprintf("--kubernetes-version=%s", constants.OldestKubernetesVersion),
+			// default is the network created by libvirt, if we change the name minikube won't boot
+			// because the given network doesn't exist
+			"--kvm-network=default",
 		}},
 		{"feature_gates_newest_cni", []string{
 			"--feature-gates",