diff --git a/nano/node/nodeconfig.cpp b/nano/node/nodeconfig.cpp
index 14caebbc..2d26bb83 100644
--- a/nano/node/nodeconfig.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/nodeconfig.cpp
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ const char * default_live_peer_network = "peering.nano.org";
 const std::string default_test_peer_network = nano::get_env_or_default ("NANO_TEST_PEER_NETWORK", "peering-test.nano.org");
 }
 
-nano::node_config::node_config () :
-	node_config (0, nano::logging (), nano::network_params{ nano::network_constants::active_network })
+nano::node_config::node_config (nano::network_params & network_params) :
+	node_config (0, nano::logging (), network_params)
 {
 }
 
-nano::node_config::node_config (uint16_t peering_port_a, nano::logging const & logging_a, nano::network_params network_params) :
+nano::node_config::node_config (uint16_t peering_port_a, nano::logging const & logging_a, nano::network_params & network_params) :
 	network_params{ network_params },
 	peering_port{ peering_port_a },
 	logging{ logging_a },
diff --git a/nano/node/nodeconfig.hpp b/nano/node/nodeconfig.hpp
index 626a6736..3a3ee92d 100644
--- a/nano/node/nodeconfig.hpp
+++ b/nano/node/nodeconfig.hpp
@@ -34,15 +34,15 @@ enum class frontiers_confirmation_mode : uint8_t
 class node_config
 {
 public:
-	node_config ();
-	node_config (uint16_t, nano::logging const &, nano::network_params network_params = nano::dev::network_params);
+	node_config (nano::network_params & network_params = nano::dev::network_params);
+	node_config (uint16_t, nano::logging const &, nano::network_params & network_params = nano::dev::network_params);
 	nano::error serialize_json (nano::jsonconfig &) const;
 	nano::error deserialize_json (bool &, nano::jsonconfig &);
 	nano::error serialize_toml (nano::tomlconfig &) const;
 	nano::error deserialize_toml (nano::tomlconfig &);
 	bool upgrade_json (unsigned, nano::jsonconfig &);
 	nano::account random_representative () const;
-	nano::network_params network_params;
+	nano::network_params & network_params;
 	uint16_t peering_port{ 0 };
 	nano::logging logging;
 	std::vector<std::pair<std::string, uint16_t>> work_peers;