diff --git a/electrum/network.py b/electrum/network.py
index 612090d14..c82b57e9b 100644
--- a/electrum/network.py
+++ b/electrum/network.py
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ class Network(Logger):
 
     LOGGING_SHORTCUT = 'n'
 
-    def __init__(self, config: SimpleConfig=None):
+    def __init__(self, config: SimpleConfig):
         global INSTANCE
         INSTANCE = self
 
@@ -244,9 +244,8 @@ class Network(Logger):
         assert self.asyncio_loop.is_running(), "event loop not running"
         self._loop_thread = None  # type: threading.Thread  # set by caller; only used for sanity checks
 
-        if config is None:
-            config = {}  # Do not use mutables as default values!
-        self.config = SimpleConfig(config) if isinstance(config, dict) else config  # type: SimpleConfig
+        assert isinstance(config, SimpleConfig), f"config should be a SimpleConfig instead of {type(config)}"
+        self.config = config
         blockchain.read_blockchains(self.config)
         self.logger.info(f"blockchains {list(map(lambda b: b.forkpoint, blockchain.blockchains.values()))}")
         self._blockchain_preferred_block = self.config.get('blockchain_preferred_block', None)  # type: Optional[Dict]
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/block_headers.py b/electrum/scripts/block_headers.py
index abf6a2595..aac821032 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/block_headers.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/block_headers.py
@@ -7,10 +7,13 @@ import asyncio
 
 from electrum.network import Network
 from electrum.util import print_msg, json_encode, create_and_start_event_loop, log_exceptions
+from electrum.simple_config import SimpleConfig
+
+config = SimpleConfig()
 
 # start network
 loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
-network = Network()
+network = Network(config)
 network.start()
 
 # wait until connected
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/estimate_fee.py b/electrum/scripts/estimate_fee.py
index 76bcc55b5..a281a65bc 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/estimate_fee.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/estimate_fee.py
@@ -6,10 +6,13 @@ from numbers import Number
 
 from electrum.network import filter_protocol, Network
 from electrum.util import create_and_start_event_loop, log_exceptions
+from electrum.simple_config import SimpleConfig
 
 
+config = SimpleConfig()
+
 loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
-network = Network()
+network = Network(config)
 network.start()
 
 @log_exceptions
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/get_history.py b/electrum/scripts/get_history.py
index a97698288..cff747802 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/get_history.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/get_history.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import asyncio
 from electrum import bitcoin
 from electrum.network import Network
 from electrum.util import json_encode, print_msg, create_and_start_event_loop, log_exceptions
+from electrum.simple_config import SimpleConfig
 
 
 try:
@@ -14,8 +15,10 @@ except Exception:
     print("usage: get_history <bitcoin_address>")
     sys.exit(1)
 
+config = SimpleConfig()
+
 loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
-network = Network()
+network = Network(config)
 network.start()
 
 @log_exceptions
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/peers.py b/electrum/scripts/peers.py
index e55e716fe..a26572b30 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/peers.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/peers.py
@@ -4,9 +4,13 @@ import asyncio
 from electrum.network import filter_protocol, Network
 from electrum.util import create_and_start_event_loop, log_exceptions
 from electrum.blockchain import hash_raw_header
+from electrum.simple_config import SimpleConfig
+
+
+config = SimpleConfig()
 
 loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
-network = Network()
+network = Network(config)
 network.start()
 
 @log_exceptions
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/txradar.py b/electrum/scripts/txradar.py
index 7fb8f7be3..2166a87ba 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/txradar.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/txradar.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import asyncio
 
 from electrum.network import filter_protocol, Network
 from electrum.util import create_and_start_event_loop, log_exceptions
+from electrum.simple_config import SimpleConfig
 
 
 try:
@@ -12,9 +13,10 @@ except:
     print("usage: txradar txid")
     sys.exit(1)
 
+config = SimpleConfig()
 
 loop, stopping_fut, loop_thread = create_and_start_event_loop()
-network = Network()
+network = Network(config)
 network.start()
 
 @log_exceptions
diff --git a/electrum/scripts/watch_address.py b/electrum/scripts/watch_address.py
index 851160de5..297ec2ea2 100755
--- a/electrum/scripts/watch_address.py
+++ b/electrum/scripts/watch_address.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import asyncio
 from electrum.network import Network
 from electrum.util import print_msg, create_and_start_event_loop
 from electrum.synchronizer import SynchronizerBase
+from electrum.simple_config import SimpleConfig
 
 
 try:
@@ -14,9 +15,11 @@ except Exception:
     print("usage: watch_address <bitcoin_address>")
     sys.exit(1)
 
+config = SimpleConfig()
+
 # start network
 loop = create_and_start_event_loop()[0]
-network = Network()
+network = Network(config)
 network.start()