diff --git a/frontend/device/cervantes/device.lua b/frontend/device/cervantes/device.lua
index 29b28daff..e4a93a61f 100644
--- a/frontend/device/cervantes/device.lua
+++ b/frontend/device/cervantes/device.lua
@@ -14,11 +14,30 @@ local function getProductId()
 end
 
 local function isConnected()
+    -- read carrier state from sysfs (for eth0)
     local file = io.open("/sys/class/net/eth0/carrier", "rb")
+
+    -- file exists while wifi module is loaded.
     if not file then return 0 end
-    local carrier = tonumber(file:read("*all")) or 0
+
+    -- 0 means not connected, 1 connected
+    local out = file:read("*all")
     file:close()
-    return carrier
+
+    -- strip NaN from file read (ie: line endings, error messages)
+    local carrier
+    if type(out) ~= "number" then
+        carrier = tonumber(out)
+    else
+        carrier = out
+    end
+
+    -- finally return if we're connected or not
+    if type(carrier) == "number" then
+        return carrier
+    else
+        return 0
+    end
 end
 
 local function isMassStorageSupported()
diff --git a/platform/cervantes/koreader.sh b/platform/cervantes/koreader.sh
index ea6774f31..29470e41b 100755
--- a/platform/cervantes/koreader.sh
+++ b/platform/cervantes/koreader.sh
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ while [ "${RETURN_VALUE}" -ge "${RESTART_KOREADER}" ]; do
         # waiting forever for home button events.
 
     elif [ "${RETURN_VALUE}" -eq "${ENTER_QBOOKAPP}" ]; then
-        # iface is down and wpa killed. Start connman
+        ./release-ip.sh
+        ./disable-wifi.sh
         [ -x /etc/init.d/connman ] && /etc/init.d/connman start
 
         # (re)start the reading application in the background
@@ -123,6 +124,8 @@ while [ "${RETURN_VALUE}" -ge "${RESTART_KOREADER}" ]; do
 done
 
 if [ "${STANDALONE}" != "true" ]; then
+    ./release-ip.sh
+    ./disable-wifi.sh
     [ -x /etc/init.d/connman ] && /etc/init.d/connman start
     restart.sh >/dev/null 2>&1
 fi