diff --git a/ironic/drivers/modules/network/neutron.py b/ironic/drivers/modules/network/neutron.py
index 2503ea84b6..bf4b635362 100644
--- a/ironic/drivers/modules/network/neutron.py
+++ b/ironic/drivers/modules/network/neutron.py
@@ -33,22 +33,6 @@ class NeutronNetwork(common.NeutronVIFPortIDMixin,
                      base.NetworkInterface):
     """Neutron v2 network interface"""
 
-    def __init__(self):
-        failures = []
-        cleaning_net = CONF.neutron.cleaning_network
-        if not cleaning_net:
-            failures.append('cleaning_network')
-
-        provisioning_net = CONF.neutron.provisioning_network
-        if not provisioning_net:
-            failures.append('provisioning_network')
-
-        if failures:
-            raise exception.DriverLoadError(
-                driver=self.__class__.__name__,
-                reason=(_('The following [neutron] group configuration '
-                          'options are missing: %s') % ', '.join(failures)))
-
     def validate(self, task):
         """Validates the network interface.
 
@@ -57,6 +41,8 @@ class NeutronNetwork(common.NeutronVIFPortIDMixin,
             is invalid.
         :raises: MissingParameterValue, if some parameters are missing.
         """
+        # NOTE(TheJulia): These are the minimal networks needed for
+        # the neutron network interface to function.
         self.get_cleaning_network_uuid(task)
         self.get_provisioning_network_uuid(task)
 
diff --git a/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/network/test_neutron.py b/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/network/test_neutron.py
index 665a674a67..71ce579847 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/network/test_neutron.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/network/test_neutron.py
@@ -85,18 +85,14 @@ class NeutronInterfaceTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
             self.interface.port_changed(task, port)
             mock_p_changed.assert_called_once_with(self.interface, task, port)
 
-    def test_init_incorrect_provisioning_net(self):
-        self.config(provisioning_network=None, group='neutron')
-        self.assertRaises(exception.DriverLoadError, neutron.NeutronNetwork)
-        self.config(provisioning_network=uuidutils.generate_uuid(),
-                    group='neutron')
-        self.config(cleaning_network=None, group='neutron')
-        self.assertRaises(exception.DriverLoadError, neutron.NeutronNetwork)
-
     @mock.patch.object(neutron_common, 'validate_network', autospec=True)
     def test_validate(self, validate_mock):
         with task_manager.acquire(self.context, self.node.id) as task:
             self.interface.validate(task)
+            # NOTE(TheJulia): This tests validates the calls are made.
+            # When not mocked out completely, since Neutron is consulted
+            # on validity of the name or UUID as well, the validate_network
+            # method gets called which rasies a validate parsable error.
             self.assertEqual([mock.call(CONF.neutron.cleaning_network,
                                         'cleaning network',
                                         context=task.context),
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/permit-conductor-to-start-without-neutron-networks-d4aa21654f9c07bf.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/permit-conductor-to-start-without-neutron-networks-d4aa21654f9c07bf.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6e4f7e2501
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/permit-conductor-to-start-without-neutron-networks-d4aa21654f9c07bf.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixes an issue where the conductor service would fail to launch when
+    the ``neutron`` network_interface setting was enabled, and no global
+    ``cleaning_network`` or ``provisioning_network`` is set in `ironic.conf.`
+    These settings have long been able to be applied on a per-node basis via
+    the API. As such, the service can now be started and will error on node
+    validation calls, as designed for drivers missing networking parameters.