diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/net/shadowfacts/phycon/network/block/networkinterface/NetworkInterfaceBlockEntity.kt b/src/main/kotlin/net/shadowfacts/phycon/network/block/networkinterface/NetworkInterfaceBlockEntity.kt
index 9a8a221..ff1a976 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/net/shadowfacts/phycon/network/block/networkinterface/NetworkInterfaceBlockEntity.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/net/shadowfacts/phycon/network/block/networkinterface/NetworkInterfaceBlockEntity.kt
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ class NetworkInterfaceBlockEntity: DeviceBlockEntity(PhyBlockEntities.NETWORK_IN
 	private val facing: Direction
 		get() = world!!.getBlockState(pos)[NetworkInterfaceBlock.FACING]
 
+	// todo: should this be a weak ref?
 	private var inventory: GroupedItemInv? = null
 
 	fun updateInventory() {
@@ -46,6 +47,10 @@ class NetworkInterfaceBlockEntity: DeviceBlockEntity(PhyBlockEntities.NETWORK_IN
 	}
 
 	fun readAll(): Map<ItemStack, Int> {
+		// if we don't have an inventory, try to get one
+		// this happens when readAll is called before a neighbor state changes, such as immediately after world load
+		if (inventory == null) updateInventory()
+
 		return inventory?.let {
 			it.storedStacks.associateWith(it::getAmount)
 		} ?: mapOf()