diff --git a/utils/podman b/utils/podman
index 446603c..d9ac13b 100644
--- a/utils/podman
+++ b/utils/podman
@@ -36,7 +36,13 @@ function startpod() {
   fi
 
   cd "$(getValueByKey 'PODMAN_DIRECTORY')/${1}"
-  podman-compose up
+
+  # check if network is needed
+  if [[ -n $(jq -r .network.name "$(getValueByKey 'PODMAN_DIRECTORY')/${1}/config.json") ]]; then
+    podman network create $(getValueByKey 'PODMAN_DIRECTORY')/${1}/config.json
+  fi
+
+  podman-compose up -d
 }
 
 function stoppod() {