diff --git a/wicd/wnettools.py b/wicd/wnettools.py
index 3009730..01e15fe 100644
--- a/wicd/wnettools.py
+++ b/wicd/wnettools.py
@@ -577,6 +577,7 @@ class BaseInterface(object):
         The IP address of the interface in dotted quad form.
 
         """
+        if not self.iface: return ""
         if not ifconfig:
             cmd = 'ifconfig ' + self.iface
             if self.verbose: print cmd