diff --git a/gnu/services/base.scm b/gnu/services/base.scm
index fb2e2928a658397e036d9903d99da489c45ff6c2..eb7c9dce042665776ae825d73d677664a9215e4b 100644
--- a/gnu/services/base.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/base.scm
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ (define-module (gnu services base)
   #:use-module ((guix store)
                 #:select (%store-prefix))
   #:use-module (gnu services)
+  #:use-module (gnu services networking)
   #:use-module (gnu system shadow)                ; 'user-account', etc.
   #:use-module (gnu system linux)                 ; 'pam-service', etc.
   #:use-module (gnu packages admin)
@@ -461,6 +462,8 @@ (define %base-services
           (mingetty-service "tty4" #:motd motd)
           (mingetty-service "tty5" #:motd motd)
           (mingetty-service "tty6" #:motd motd)
+          (static-networking-service "lo" "127.0.0.1"
+                                     #:provision '(loopback))
           (syslog-service)
           (guix-service)
           (nscd-service)
diff --git a/gnu/services/networking.scm b/gnu/services/networking.scm
index ccc322648b5b407258b08c61a4faa609f5ecd860..f03161fe589bec2112f262bc2c5b294906c3e8cf 100644
--- a/gnu/services/networking.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/networking.scm
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ (define-module (gnu services networking)
 (define* (static-networking-service interface ip
                                     #:key
                                     gateway
+                                    (provision '(networking))
                                     (name-servers '())
                                     (inetutils inetutils)
                                     (net-tools net-tools))
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ (define* (static-networking-service interface ip
       (documentation
        (string-append "Set up networking on the '" interface
                       "' interface using a static IP address."))
-      (provision '(networking))
+      (provision provision)
       (start #~(lambda _
                  ;; Return #t if successfully started.
                  (and (zero? (system* (string-append #$inetutils