diff --git a/salt/cloud/clouds/joyent.py b/salt/cloud/clouds/joyent.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/salt/cloud/clouds/joyent.py
+++ b/salt/cloud/clouds/joyent.py
@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ VALID_RESPONSE_CODES = [
     http_client.NO_CONTENT
 ]
 
+DEFAULT_NETWORKS = ['Joyent-SDC-Public']
+
 
 # Only load in this module if the Joyent configurations are in place
 def __virtual__():
@@ -281,7 +283,7 @@ def create(vm_):
     salt.utils.cloud.check_name(vm_['name'], 'a-zA-Z0-9-.')
     kwargs = {
         'name': vm_['name'],
-        'networks': vm_['networks'],
+        'networks': vm_.get('networks', DEFAULT_NETWORKS),
         'image': get_image(vm_),
         'size': get_size(vm_),
         'location': vm_.get('location', DEFAULT_LOCATION)
Added safer .get method to vm_ 'networks' dictionary