diff --git a/pkg/combustion/combustion.go b/pkg/combustion/combustion.go
index 3bd985a9..3d1fcf61 100644
--- a/pkg/combustion/combustion.go
+++ b/pkg/combustion/combustion.go
@@ -99,7 +99,12 @@ func Configure(ctx *image.Context) error {
 		combustionScripts = append(combustionScripts, scripts...)
 	}
 
-	script, err := assembleScript(combustionScripts)
+	var networkScript string
+	if isComponentConfigured(ctx, networkConfigDir) {
+		networkScript = networkConfigScriptName
+	}
+
+	script, err := assembleScript(combustionScripts, networkScript)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("assembling script: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/combustion/script.go b/pkg/combustion/script.go
index 39c533ce..f8fe75c7 100644
--- a/pkg/combustion/script.go
+++ b/pkg/combustion/script.go
@@ -5,15 +5,28 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/suse-edge/edge-image-builder/pkg/template"
 )
 
-//go:embed templates/script-base.sh
+//go:embed templates/script-base.sh.tpl
 var combustionScriptBase string
 
-func assembleScript(scripts []string) (string, error) {
+func assembleScript(scripts []string, networkScript string) (string, error) {
 	b := new(strings.Builder)
 
-	_, err := b.WriteString(combustionScriptBase)
+	values := struct {
+		NetworkScript string
+	}{
+		NetworkScript: networkScript,
+	}
+
+	data, err := template.Parse("combustion-base", combustionScriptBase, values)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("parsing combustion base template: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	_, err = b.WriteString(data)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("writing script base: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/combustion/script_test.go b/pkg/combustion/script_test.go
index ca1c7d54..d084b796 100644
--- a/pkg/combustion/script_test.go
+++ b/pkg/combustion/script_test.go
@@ -7,10 +7,30 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
-func TestAssembleScript(t *testing.T) {
-	script, err := assembleScript([]string{"foo.sh", "bar.sh", "baz.sh"})
+func TestAssembleScript_DynamicNetwork(t *testing.T) {
+	script, err := assembleScript([]string{"foo.sh", "bar.sh", "baz.sh"}, "")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
+	assert.Contains(t, script, "# combustion: network")
+	assert.NotContains(t, script, "# combustion: prepare network")
+
+	assert.NotContains(t, script, `if [ "${1-}" = "--prepare" ]; then`)
+	assert.NotContains(t, script, "./configure-network.sh")
+
+	// alphabetic ordering
+	assert.Contains(t, script, "./bar.sh\n./baz.sh\n./foo.sh")
+}
+
+func TestAssembleScript_StaticNetwork(t *testing.T) {
+	script, err := assembleScript([]string{"foo.sh", "bar.sh", "baz.sh"}, "configure-network.sh")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Contains(t, script, "# combustion: prepare network")
+	assert.NotContains(t, script, "# combustion: network")
+
+	assert.Contains(t, script, `if [ "${1-}" = "--prepare" ]; then`)
+	assert.Contains(t, script, "./configure-network.sh")
+
 	// alphabetic ordering
 	assert.Contains(t, script, "./bar.sh\n./baz.sh\n./foo.sh")
 }
diff --git a/pkg/combustion/templates/script-base.sh b/pkg/combustion/templates/script-base.sh.tpl
similarity index 52%
rename from pkg/combustion/templates/script-base.sh
rename to pkg/combustion/templates/script-base.sh.tpl
index 4696736c..1cb65e57 100644
--- a/pkg/combustion/templates/script-base.sh
+++ b/pkg/combustion/templates/script-base.sh.tpl
@@ -1,7 +1,17 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# combustion: network
 set -euo pipefail
 
+{{ if .NetworkScript -}}
+# combustion: prepare network
+
+if [ "${1-}" = "--prepare" ]; then
+    ./{{ .NetworkScript }}
+    exit 0
+fi
+{{- else -}}
+# combustion: network
+{{- end }}
+
 # Redirect output to the console
 exec > >(exec tee -a /dev/tty0) 2>&1