diff --git a/libnetwork/controller.go b/libnetwork/controller.go
index df75be707f..ae7dac0b82 100644
--- a/libnetwork/controller.go
+++ b/libnetwork/controller.go
@@ -738,7 +738,6 @@ func (c *controller) NewNetwork(networkType, name string, id string, options ...
 	if network.configOnly {
 		network.scope = datastore.LocalScope
 		network.networkType = "null"
-		network.ipamType = ""
 		goto addToStore
 	}
 
diff --git a/libnetwork/network.go b/libnetwork/network.go
index 2b6c705a7b..fa2ab800ae 100644
--- a/libnetwork/network.go
+++ b/libnetwork/network.go
@@ -412,6 +412,9 @@ func (n *network) applyConfigurationTo(to *network) error {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	if len(n.ipamType) != 0 {
+		to.ipamType = n.ipamType
+	}
 	if len(n.ipamOptions) > 0 {
 		to.ipamOptions = make(map[string]string, len(n.ipamOptions))
 		for k, v := range n.ipamOptions {