diff --git a/downstream.go b/downstream.go
index cd2cb77..e1b98f4 100644
--- a/downstream.go
+++ b/downstream.go
@@ -702,58 +702,70 @@ func (dc *downstreamConn) register() error {
 	})
 
 	dc.forEachNetwork(func(net *network) {
-		historyName := dc.rawUsername
-
-		// TODO: need to take dc.network into account here
-		var seqPtr *uint64
-		if firstDownstream {
-			net.lock.Lock()
-			seq, ok := net.history[historyName]
-			net.lock.Unlock()
-			if ok {
-				seqPtr = &seq
-			}
-		}
-
-		// TODO: we need to create a consumer when adding networks on-the-fly
-		consumer, ch := net.ring.NewConsumer(seqPtr)
-		go func() {
-			for {
-				var closed bool
-				select {
-				case <-ch:
-					uc := net.upstream()
-					if uc == nil {
-						dc.logger.Printf("ignoring messages for upstream %q: upstream is disconnected", net.Addr)
-						break
-					}
-					dc.ringMessages <- ringMessage{consumer, uc}
-				case <-dc.closed:
-					closed = true
-				}
-				if closed {
-					break
-				}
-			}
-
-			seq := consumer.Close()
-
-			// TODO: need to take dc.network into account here
-			dc.user.lock.Lock()
-			lastDownstream := len(dc.user.downstreamConns) == 0
-			dc.user.lock.Unlock()
-
-			if lastDownstream {
-				net.lock.Lock()
-				net.history[historyName] = seq
-				net.lock.Unlock()
-			}
-		}()
+		// TODO: need to take dc.network into account when deciding whether or
+		// not to load history
+		dc.runNetwork(net, firstDownstream)
 	})
 
 	return nil
 }
 
+// runNetwork starts listening for messages coming from the network's ring
+// buffer.
+//
+// It panics if the network is not suitable for the downstream connection.
+func (dc *downstreamConn) runNetwork(net *network, loadHistory bool) {
+	if dc.network != nil && net != dc.network {
+		panic("network not suitable for downstream connection")
+	}
+
+	historyName := dc.rawUsername
+
+	var seqPtr *uint64
+	if loadHistory {
+		net.lock.Lock()
+		seq, ok := net.history[historyName]
+		net.lock.Unlock()
+		if ok {
+			seqPtr = &seq
+		}
+	}
+
+	consumer, ch := net.ring.NewConsumer(seqPtr)
+	go func() {
+		for {
+			var closed bool
+			select {
+			case <-ch:
+				uc := net.upstream()
+				if uc == nil {
+					dc.logger.Printf("ignoring messages for upstream %q: upstream is disconnected", net.Addr)
+					break
+				}
+				dc.ringMessages <- ringMessage{consumer, uc}
+			case <-dc.closed:
+				closed = true
+			}
+			if closed {
+				break
+			}
+		}
+
+		seq := consumer.Close()
+
+		// TODO: need to take dc.network into account here
+		dc.user.lock.Lock()
+		lastDownstream := len(dc.user.downstreamConns) == 0
+		dc.user.lock.Unlock()
+
+		if lastDownstream {
+			net.lock.Lock()
+			net.history[historyName] = seq
+			net.lock.Unlock()
+		}
+	}()
+}
+
 func (dc *downstreamConn) runUntilRegistered() error {
 	for !dc.registered {
 		msg, err := dc.irc.ReadMessage()
diff --git a/user.go b/user.go
index b4e4060..dbb1b1f 100644
--- a/user.go
+++ b/user.go
@@ -198,14 +198,26 @@ func (u *user) removeDownstream(dc *downstreamConn) {
 }
 
 func (u *user) createNetwork(net *Network) (*network, error) {
+	if net.ID != 0 {
+		panic("tried creating an already-existing network")
+	}
+
 	network := newNetwork(u, net)
 	err := u.srv.db.StoreNetwork(u.Username, &network.Network)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
+	u.forEachDownstream(func(dc *downstreamConn) {
+		if dc.network == nil {
+			dc.runNetwork(network, false)
+		}
+	})
+
 	u.lock.Lock()
 	u.networks = append(u.networks, network)
 	u.lock.Unlock()
+
 	go network.run()
 	return network, nil
 }