diff --git a/wled00/cfg.cpp b/wled00/cfg.cpp
index e30be759..28b63ea6 100644
--- a/wled00/cfg.cpp
+++ b/wled00/cfg.cpp
@@ -49,13 +49,6 @@ bool deserializeConfig(JsonObject doc, bool fromFS) {
 
   //long vid = doc[F("vid")]; // 2010020
 
-#ifdef WLED_USE_ETHERNET
-  JsonObject ethernet = doc[F("eth")];
-  CJSON(ethernetType, ethernet["type"]);
-  // NOTE: Ethernet configuration takes priority over other use of pins
-  initEthernet();
-#endif
-
   JsonObject id = doc["id"];
   getStringFromJson(cmDNS, id[F("mdns")], 33);
   getStringFromJson(serverDescription, id[F("name")], 33);
@@ -125,6 +118,14 @@ bool deserializeConfig(JsonObject doc, bool fromFS) {
     }
   }
 
+  // https://github.com/wled/WLED/issues/5247
+#ifdef WLED_USE_ETHERNET
+  JsonObject ethernet = doc[F("eth")];
+  CJSON(ethernetType, ethernet["type"]);
+  // NOTE: Ethernet configuration takes priority over other use of pins
+  initEthernet();
+#endif
+
   JsonObject ap = doc["ap"];
   getStringFromJson(apSSID, ap[F("ssid")], 33);
   getStringFromJson(apPass, ap["psk"] , 65); //normally not present due to security
diff --git a/wled00/network.cpp b/wled00/network.cpp
index b4ebb6fe..68770a71 100644
--- a/wled00/network.cpp
+++ b/wled00/network.cpp
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ bool initEthernet()
                 (eth_phy_type_t)   es.eth_type,
                 (eth_clock_mode_t) es.eth_clk_mode
                 )) {
-    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("initC: ETH.begin() failed"));
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("initE: ETH.begin() failed"));
     // de-allocate the allocated pins
     for (managed_pin_type mpt : pinsToAllocate) {
       PinManager::deallocatePin(mpt.pin, PinOwner::Ethernet);
@@ -247,8 +247,15 @@ bool initEthernet()
     return false;
   }
 
+  // https://github.com/wled/WLED/issues/5247
+  if (multiWiFi[0].staticIP != (uint32_t)0x00000000 && multiWiFi[0].staticGW != (uint32_t)0x00000000) {
+    ETH.config(multiWiFi[0].staticIP, multiWiFi[0].staticGW, multiWiFi[0].staticSN, dnsAddress);
+  } else {
+    ETH.config(INADDR_NONE, INADDR_NONE, INADDR_NONE);
+  }
+
   successfullyConfiguredEthernet = true;
-  DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("initC: *** Ethernet successfully configured! ***"));
+  DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("initE: *** Ethernet successfully configured! ***"));
   return true;
 }
 #endif
@@ -406,11 +413,6 @@ void WiFiEvent(WiFiEvent_t event)
       if (!apActive) {
         WiFi.disconnect(true); // disable WiFi entirely
       }
-      if (multiWiFi[0].staticIP != (uint32_t)0x00000000 && multiWiFi[0].staticGW != (uint32_t)0x00000000) {
-        ETH.config(multiWiFi[0].staticIP, multiWiFi[0].staticGW, multiWiFi[0].staticSN, dnsAddress);
-      } else {
-        ETH.config(INADDR_NONE, INADDR_NONE, INADDR_NONE);
-      }
       // convert the "serverDescription" into a valid DNS hostname (alphanumeric)
       char hostname[64];
       prepareHostname(hostname);