diff --git a/gnu/services/networking.scm b/gnu/services/networking.scm
index dbfe15a31..c3ba0787c 100644
--- a/gnu/services/networking.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/networking.scm
@@ -147,9 +147,8 @@ fe80::1%lo0 apps.facebook.com\n")
            (default #f))
   (provision static-networking-provision
              (default #f))
-  ;; Wait for udev to be up so that interfaces are actually usable.
   (requirement static-networking-requirement
-               (default '(udev)))
+               (default '()))
   (name-servers static-networking-name-servers    ;FIXME: doesn't belong here
                 (default '())))
 
@@ -160,11 +159,9 @@ fe80::1%lo0 apps.facebook.com\n")
      (let ((loopback? (and provision (memq 'loopback provision))))
        (shepherd-service
 
-        ;; Force the loopback interface to start early.
-        (requirement (if loopback? '() requirement))
-
         (documentation
          "Bring up the networking interface using a static IP address.")
+        (requirement requirement)
         (provision (or provision
                        (list (symbol-append 'networking-
                                             (string->symbol interface)))))
@@ -266,7 +263,9 @@ network interface.")))
 
 (define* (static-networking-service interface ip
                                     #:key
-                                    netmask gateway provision requirement
+                                    netmask gateway provision
+                                    ;; Most interfaces require udev to be usable.
+                                    (requirement '(udev))
                                     (name-servers '()))
   "Return a service that starts @var{interface} with address @var{ip}.  If
 @var{netmask} is true, use it as the network mask.  If @var{gateway} is true,
diff --git a/gnu/services/base.scm b/gnu/services/base.scm
index 7fc8f6aa7..f4681c804 100644
--- a/gnu/services/base.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/base.scm
@@ -1986,6 +1986,7 @@ This service is not part of @var{%base-services}."
         (service static-networking-service-type
                  (list (static-networking (interface "lo")
                                           (ip "127.0.0.1")
+                                          (requirement '())
                                           (provision '(loopback)))))
         (syslog-service)
         (service urandom-seed-service-type)