diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e9f55c2..777935d 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@ init-peers:
 
 start:
 	@echo "Starting Personal Internet Cell..."
+	@docker network inspect cell-network >/dev/null 2>&1 || \
+	  docker network create --driver bridge --subnet "$${CELL_NETWORK:-172.20.0.0/16}" cell-network
 	PUID=$$(id -u) PGID=$$(id -g) $(DCF) --profile core up -d --build
 	@echo "Services started. Check status with 'make status'"
 
@@ -141,12 +143,15 @@ update:
 	git pull
 	@git stash pop --quiet 2>/dev/null || true
 	@echo "Rebuilding and restarting services..."
+	@docker network inspect cell-network >/dev/null 2>&1 || \
+	  docker network create --driver bridge --subnet "$${CELL_NETWORK:-172.20.0.0/16}" cell-network
 	PUID=$$(id -u) PGID=$$(id -g) $(DCF) --profile core up -d --build
 	@echo "Update complete. Run 'make status' to verify."
 
 reinstall:
 	@echo "Reinstalling Personal Internet Cell from scratch..."
-	PUID=$$(id -u) PGID=$$(id -g) $(DCF) --profile core down -v 2>/dev/null || true
+	PUID=$$(id -u) PGID=$$(id -g) $(DCF) --profile core down 2>/dev/null || true
+	docker network rm cell-network 2>/dev/null || true
 	@sudo rm -rf config/ data/
 	@$(MAKE) setup
 	@$(MAKE) start
@@ -176,7 +181,8 @@ uninstall:
 	  y|Y) \
 	    echo "Stopping containers and removing images..."; \
 	    for f in data/services/*/docker-compose.yml; do [ -f "$$f" ] && PUID=$$(id -u) PGID=$$(id -g) docker compose -f "$$f" down 2>/dev/null || true; done; \
-	    PUID=$$(id -u) PGID=$$(id -g) $(DCF) --profile core down -v --rmi all 2>/dev/null || true; \
+	    PUID=$$(id -u) PGID=$$(id -g) $(DCF) --profile core down --rmi all 2>/dev/null || true; \
+	    docker network rm cell-network 2>/dev/null || true; \
 	    echo "Deleting config/ and data/..."; \
 	    sudo rm -rf config/ data/; \
 	    echo "Uninstall complete. Git repo and scripts remain."; \
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index e124fbe..1cf4e3b 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -181,7 +181,4 @@ services:
 networks:
   cell-network:
     name: cell-network
-    driver: bridge
-    ipam:
-      config:
-        - subnet: ${CELL_NETWORK:-172.20.0.0/16}
+    external: true