diff --git a/sys/src/9/boot/net.rc b/sys/src/9/boot/net.rc
index c048eda8d..8cb05e76b 100755
--- a/sys/src/9/boot/net.rc
+++ b/sys/src/9/boot/net.rc
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ fn confignet{
 
 	# setup wifi encryption if any
 	if(~ $1 ether && ~ $service terminal && test -x /bin/aux/wpa){
-		if(grep -s '^status: need authentication' $2/ifstats){
+		if(grep -s '^status: need authentication' $2/ifstats >[2]/dev/null){
 			aux/wpa -p $2
 		}
 	}