diff --git a/virtManager/createnet.py b/virtManager/createnet.py
index 3612dc56..d092d9d1 100644
--- a/virtManager/createnet.py
+++ b/virtManager/createnet.py
@@ -257,18 +257,12 @@ class vmmCreateNetwork(vmmGObjectUI):
     ###################
 
     def validate_name(self):
-        name_widget = self.widget("net-name")
-        name = name_widget.get_text()
-        if len(name) > 50 or len(name) == 0:
-            retcode = self.err.val_err(_("Invalid Network Name"),
-                        _("Network name must be non-blank and less than "
-                          "50 characters"))
-            name_widget.grab_focus()
-            return retcode
-        if re.match("^[a-zA-Z0-9_]*$", name) is None:
-            return self.err.val_err(_("Invalid Network Name"),
-                        _("Network name may contain alphanumeric and '_' "
-                          "characters only"))
+        try:
+            net = self._build_xmlstub()
+            net.name = self.widget("net-name").get_text()
+        except Exception, e:
+            return self.err.val_err(_("Invalid network name"), str(e))
+
         return True
 
     def validate_ipv4(self):
@@ -684,8 +678,11 @@ class vmmCreateNetwork(vmmGObjectUI):
     # XML build and install #
     #########################
 
+    def _build_xmlstub(self):
+        return Network(self.conn.get_backend())
+
     def _build_xmlobj(self):
-        net = Network(self.conn.get_backend())
+        net = self._build_xmlstub()
 
         net.name = self.widget("net-name").get_text()
         net.domain_name = self.widget("net-domain-name").get_text() or None
diff --git a/virtinst/network.py b/virtinst/network.py
index 8925dc33..e2ffa120 100644
--- a/virtinst/network.py
+++ b/virtinst/network.py
@@ -131,7 +131,9 @@ class Network(XMLBuilder):
     # Validation helpers #
     ######################
 
-    def _check_name_collision(self, name):
+    def _validate_name(self, name):
+        util.validate_name(_("Network"), name)
+
         try:
             self.conn.networkLookupByName(name)
         except libvirt.libvirtError:
@@ -155,7 +157,7 @@ class Network(XMLBuilder):
                        "macaddr", "ips", "routes"]
 
     ipv6 = XMLProperty("./@ipv6", is_yesno=True)
-    name = XMLProperty("./name", validate_cb=_check_name_collision)
+    name = XMLProperty("./name", validate_cb=_validate_name)
     uuid = XMLProperty("./uuid",
                        validate_cb=lambda s, v: util.validate_uuid(v),
                        default_cb=_get_default_uuid)