diff --git a/contrib/znc-import/main.go b/contrib/znc-import/main.go
index b5f4adc..0a72cd7 100644
--- a/contrib/znc-import/main.go
+++ b/contrib/znc-import/main.go
@@ -175,7 +175,8 @@ func main() {
 			if ok {
 				logger.Printf("updating existing network")
 			} else {
-				n = &database.Network{Name: netName}
+				n = database.NewNetwork("")
+				n.Name = netName
 				logger.Printf("creating new network")
 			}
 
diff --git a/database/database.go b/database/database.go
index 44fa60e..5a6e8d8 100644
--- a/database/database.go
+++ b/database/database.go
@@ -161,6 +161,13 @@ type Network struct {
 	Enabled         bool
 }
 
+func NewNetwork(addr string) *Network {
+	return &Network{
+		Addr:    addr,
+		Enabled: true,
+	}
+}
+
 func (net *Network) GetName() string {
 	if net.Name != "" {
 		return net.Name
diff --git a/downstream.go b/downstream.go
index cb59948..f383212 100644
--- a/downstream.go
+++ b/downstream.go
@@ -1403,13 +1403,12 @@ func (dc *downstreamConn) loadNetwork(ctx context.Context) error {
 			}}
 		}
 
+		record := database.NewNetwork(dc.registration.networkName)
+		record.Nick = nick
+
 		dc.logger.Printf("auto-saving network %q", dc.registration.networkName)
 		var err error
-		network, err = dc.user.createNetwork(ctx, &database.Network{
-			Addr:    dc.registration.networkName,
-			Nick:    nick,
-			Enabled: true,
-		})
+		network, err = dc.user.createNetwork(ctx, record)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -3069,7 +3068,8 @@ func (dc *downstreamConn) handleMessageRegistered(ctx context.Context, msg *irc.
 			}
 			attrs := irc.ParseTags(attrsStr)
 
-			record := &database.Network{Nick: dc.nick, Enabled: true}
+			record := database.NewNetwork("")
+			record.Nick = dc.nick
 			if err := updateNetworkAttrs(record, attrs, subcommand); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/server_test.go b/server_test.go
index dc56981..fe88065 100644
--- a/server_test.go
+++ b/server_test.go
@@ -74,12 +74,8 @@ func createTestUpstream(t *testing.T, db database.Database, user *database.User)
 		t.Fatalf("failed to create TCP listener: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	network := &database.Network{
-		Name:    "testnet",
-		Addr:    "irc+insecure://" + ln.Addr().String(),
-		Nick:    user.Username,
-		Enabled: true,
-	}
+	network := database.NewNetwork("irc+insecure://" + ln.Addr().String())
+	network.Name = "testnet"
 	if err := db.StoreNetwork(context.Background(), user.ID, network); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to store test network: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/service.go b/service.go
index 41097b9..848fcae 100644
--- a/service.go
+++ b/service.go
@@ -577,10 +577,7 @@ func handleServiceNetworkCreate(ctx *serviceContext, params []string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("flag -addr is required")
 	}
 
-	record := &database.Network{
-		Addr:    *fs.Addr,
-		Enabled: true,
-	}
+	record := database.NewNetwork(*fs.Addr)
 	if err := fs.update(record); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}