diff --git a/scripts/docker/network/network_setup.sh b/scripts/docker/network/network_setup.sh
index b57b046..f7fa7f6 100755
--- a/scripts/docker/network/network_setup.sh
+++ b/scripts/docker/network/network_setup.sh
@@ -1,34 +1,50 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-installDockerNetwork() 
+installDockerNetwork()
 {
-  # Check if network setup is needed
-  if [[ "$DOCKER_NETWORK_SETUP_NEEDED" == "true" ]]; then
-    isHeader "Create a Docker Network"
+  if [[ "$DOCKER_NETWORK_SETUP_NEEDED" != "true" ]]; then
+    isNotice "Docker network $CFG_NETWORK_NAME already exists or setup not needed"
+    return 0
+  fi
 
-    isNotice "Network $CFG_NETWORK_NAME not found, creating now"
+  isHeader "Create a Docker Network"
 
-    # Check if we need to generate a new subnet
-    updateDockerNetworkSubnet
+  # Re-check existence right before creating, and converge instead of erroring
+  # if it's already there. The requirement check that set
+  # DOCKER_NETWORK_SETUP_NEEDED can run before the rootless daemon socket is
+  # reachable (a failed inspect is indistinguishable from "network absent"), and
+  # a previous install leaves the network behind — both make us think it's new
+  # when it isn't. If it exists, leave it in place and adopt its real subnet so
+  # CFG stays in step with docker (and we don't randomize to a subnet we can't apply).
+  if dockerCommandRun "docker network inspect $CFG_NETWORK_NAME > /dev/null 2>&1"; then
+    local current_subnet; current_subnet=$(dockerCommandRun "docker network inspect $CFG_NETWORK_NAME --format '{{range .IPAM.Config}}{{.Subnet}}{{end}}' 2>/dev/null")
+    isNotice "Docker network $CFG_NETWORK_NAME already exists, leaving it in place"
+    if [[ -n "$current_subnet" && "$current_subnet" != "$CFG_NETWORK_SUBNET" ]]; then
+      adoptDockerSubnet "$current_subnet"
+    fi
+    return 0
+  fi
 
-    # Create the Docker network command
-    local network_create="docker network create \
+  isNotice "Network $CFG_NETWORK_NAME not found, creating now"
+
+  # Check if we need to generate a new subnet
+  updateDockerNetworkSubnet
+
+  # Create the Docker network command
+  local network_create="docker network create \
 --driver=bridge \
 --subnet=$CFG_NETWORK_SUBNET \
 --ip-range=${CFG_NETWORK_SUBNET%.*}.0/24 \
 --gateway=${CFG_NETWORK_SUBNET%.*}.1 \
 --opt com.docker.network.bridge.name=$CFG_NETWORK_NAME \
 $CFG_NETWORK_NAME"
-    
-    # Run the network creation command
-    local result; result=$(dockerCommandRun "$network_create")
-    if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
-      checkSuccess "Docker network $CFG_NETWORK_NAME created successfully"
-    else
-      isError "Failed to create Docker network $CFG_NETWORK_NAME"
-      isError " $result"
-    fi
+
+  # Run the network creation command
+  local result; result=$(dockerCommandRun "$network_create")
+  if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
+    checkSuccess "Docker network $CFG_NETWORK_NAME created successfully"
   else
-    isNotice "Docker network $CFG_NETWORK_NAME already exists or setup not needed"
+    isError "Failed to create Docker network $CFG_NETWORK_NAME"
+    isError " $result"
   fi
 }