diff --git a/lib/interface.py b/lib/interface.py
index 0831dd555..76685ba57 100644
--- a/lib/interface.py
+++ b/lib/interface.py
@@ -38,6 +38,28 @@ proxy_modes = ['socks4', 'socks5', 'http']
 
 import util
 
+def serialize_proxy(p):
+    return ':'.join([p.get('mode'),p.get('host'), p.get('port')])
+
+def deserialize_proxy(s):
+    if type(s) != str:
+        return None
+    if s.lower() == 'none':
+        return None
+    proxy = { "mode":"socks5", "host":"localhost" }
+    args = s.split(':')
+    n = 0
+    if proxy_modes.count(args[n]) == 1:
+        proxy["mode"] = args[n]
+        n += 1
+    if len(args) > n:
+        proxy["host"] = args[n]
+        n += 1
+    if len(args) > n:
+        proxy["port"] = args[n]
+    else:
+        proxy["port"] = "8080" if proxy["mode"] == "http" else "1080"
+    return proxy
 
 
 def Interface(server, config = None):
@@ -68,7 +90,7 @@ class TcpInterface(threading.Thread):
         self.host, self.port, self.protocol = self.server.split(':')
         self.port = int(self.port)
         self.use_ssl = (self.protocol == 's')
-        self.proxy = self.parse_proxy_options(self.config.get('proxy'))
+        self.proxy = deserialize_proxy(self.config.get('proxy'))
         if self.proxy:
             self.proxy_mode = proxy_modes.index(self.proxy["mode"]) + 1
             socks.setdefaultproxy(self.proxy_mode, self.proxy["host"], int(self.proxy["port"]))
@@ -271,25 +293,6 @@ class TcpInterface(threading.Thread):
             self.unanswered_requests[self.message_id] = method, params, _id, queue
             self.message_id += 1
 
-    def parse_proxy_options(self, s):
-        if type(s) == type({}): return s  # fixme: type should be fixed
-        if type(s) != type(""): return None
-        if s.lower() == 'none': return None
-        proxy = { "mode":"socks5", "host":"localhost" }
-        args = s.split(':')
-        n = 0
-        if proxy_modes.count(args[n]) == 1:
-            proxy["mode"] = args[n]
-            n += 1
-        if len(args) > n:
-            proxy["host"] = args[n]
-            n += 1
-        if len(args) > n:
-            proxy["port"] = args[n]
-        else:
-            proxy["port"] = "8080" if proxy["mode"] == "http" else "1080"
-        return proxy
-
     def stop(self):
         if self.is_connected and self.protocol in 'st' and self.s:
             self.s.shutdown(socket.SHUT_RDWR)
diff --git a/lib/network.py b/lib/network.py
index c1b88ba9b..fc542a075 100644
--- a/lib/network.py
+++ b/lib/network.py
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ class Network(threading.Thread):
 
     def get_parameters(self):
         host, port, protocol = self.default_server.split(':')
-        proxy = self.proxy
+        proxy = interface.deserialize_proxy(self.proxy)
         auto_connect = self.config.get('auto_cycle', True)
         return host, port, protocol, proxy, auto_connect
 
@@ -225,14 +225,16 @@ class Network(threading.Thread):
         threading.Thread.start(self)
 
     def set_parameters(self, host, port, protocol, proxy, auto_connect):
+        proxy_str = interface.serialize_proxy(proxy)
         self.config.set_key('auto_cycle', auto_connect, True)
-        self.config.set_key("proxy", proxy, True)
+        self.config.set_key("proxy", proxy_str, True)
         self.config.set_key("protocol", protocol, True)
         server = ':'.join([ host, port, protocol ])
         self.config.set_key("server", server, True)
 
-        if self.proxy != proxy or self.protocol != protocol:
-            self.proxy = proxy
+        if self.proxy != proxy_str or self.protocol != protocol:
+            print_error('restarting network')
+            self.proxy = proxy_str
             self.protocol = protocol
             for i in self.interfaces.values(): i.stop()
             if auto_connect: