diff --git a/adafruit_portalbase/__init__.py b/adafruit_portalbase/__init__.py
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
index 6db809b..6b01ab7
--- a/adafruit_portalbase/__init__.py
+++ b/adafruit_portalbase/__init__.py
@@ -85,17 +85,32 @@ def __init__(
         except ImportError:
             self._alarm = None
         self._debug = debug
+        if url and self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to get data from a url")
         self.url = url
+        if headers and self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to send headers")
         self._headers = headers
+        if json_path and self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use json_path")
         self._json_path = None
         self.json_path = json_path
 
+        if regexp_path and self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use regexp_path")
         self._regexp_path = regexp_path
+
+        if success_callback and self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use success_callback")
         self._success_callback = success_callback
 
         # Add any JSON translators
+
         if json_transform:
-            self.network.add_json_transform(json_transform)
+            if self.network is not None:
+                self.network.add_json_transform(json_transform)
+            else:
+                raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use json_transform.")
 
     def _load_font(self, font):
         """
@@ -416,6 +431,9 @@ def fetch(self, refresh_url=None, timeout=10):
         :param int timeout: The timeout period in seconds.
 
         """
+
+        if self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use fetch()")
         if refresh_url:
             self.url = refresh_url
         values = []
@@ -459,6 +477,9 @@ def _fill_text_labels(self, values):
 
     def get_local_time(self, location=None):
         """Accessor function for get_local_time()"""
+        if self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use get_local_time()")
+
         return self.network.get_local_time(location=location)
 
     def push_to_io(self, feed_key, data, metadata=None, precision=None):
@@ -470,6 +491,8 @@ def push_to_io(self, feed_key, data, metadata=None, precision=None):
         :param int precision: Optional amount of precision points to send with floating point data
 
         """
+        if self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use push_to_io()")
 
         self.network.push_to_io(feed_key, data, metadata=metadata, precision=precision)
 
@@ -479,6 +502,8 @@ def get_io_data(self, feed_key):
         :param str feed_key: Name of feed key to receive data from.
 
         """
+        if self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use get_io_data()")
 
         return self.network.get_io_data(feed_key)
 
@@ -489,6 +514,9 @@ def get_io_feed(self, feed_key, detailed=False):
         :param bool detailed: Whether to return additional detailed information
 
         """
+        if self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use get_io_feed()")
+
         return self.network.get_io_feed(feed_key, detailed)
 
     def get_io_group(self, group_key):
@@ -497,6 +525,8 @@ def get_io_group(self, group_key):
         :param str group_key: Name of group key to match.
 
         """
+        if self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use get_io_group()")
         return self.network.get_io_group(group_key)
 
     @property
@@ -509,6 +539,9 @@ def json_path(self):
 
     @json_path.setter
     def json_path(self, value):
+        if value is not None and self.network is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("network must not be None to use json_path.")
+
         if value:
             if isinstance(value[0], (list, tuple)):
                 self._json_path = value
diff --git a/adafruit_portalbase/network.py b/adafruit_portalbase/network.py
index d06a3ab..1196211 100644
--- a/adafruit_portalbase/network.py
+++ b/adafruit_portalbase/network.py
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@
 except ImportError:
     print(
         """WiFi settings are kept in secrets.py, please add them there!
-the secrets dictionary must contain 'ssid' and 'password' at a minimum"""
+the secrets dictionary must contain 'ssid' and 'password' at a minimum
+in order to use network related features"""
     )
 
 __version__ = "0.0.0-auto.0"