diff --git a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPlansResource.java b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPlansResource.java
index a4e9ee11..537e3443 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPlansResource.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/main/java/bubble/resources/bill/AccountPlansResource.java
@@ -184,7 +184,13 @@ public class AccountPlansResource extends AccountOwnedResource<AccountPlan, Acco
         if (plan == null) {
             plan = planDAO.findByUuid(caller.getPreferredPlan());
             if (plan == null) {
-                errors.addViolation("err.plan.required");
+                final List<BubblePlan> bubblePlans = planDAO.findAll();
+                if (empty(bubblePlans)) {
+                    errors.addViolation("err.plan.required");
+                } else {
+                    plan = bubblePlans.get(0);
+                    request.setPlan(plan.getUuid());
+                }
             } else {
                 request.setPlan(plan.getUuid());
             }
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTest.java b/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTest.java
index 4c95574f..e5d5808d 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTest.java
+++ b/bubble-server/src/test/java/bubble/test/system/NetworkTest.java
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ import org.junit.Test;
 @Slf4j
 public class NetworkTest extends NetworkTestBase {
 
-    @Test public void testRegions        () throws Exception { modelTest("network/network_regions"); }
-    @Test public void testGetNetworkKeys () throws Exception { modelTest("network/network_keys"); }
-    @Test public void testMinimalLaunch () throws Exception { modelTest("network/minimal_launch"); }
+    @Test public void testRegions             () throws Exception { modelTest("network/network_regions"); }
+    @Test public void testGetNetworkKeys      () throws Exception { modelTest("network/network_keys"); }
+    @Test public void testPreferredPlanLaunch () throws Exception { modelTest("network/preferred_plan_launch"); }
+    @Test public void testMinimalLaunch       () throws Exception { modelTest("network/minimal_launch"); }
 
 }
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/test/resources/models/tests/network/minimal_launch.json b/bubble-server/src/test/resources/models/tests/network/minimal_launch.json
index 2a4135db..8d53f6e2 100644
--- a/bubble-server/src/test/resources/models/tests/network/minimal_launch.json
+++ b/bubble-server/src/test/resources/models/tests/network/minimal_launch.json
@@ -9,26 +9,14 @@
   },
 
   {
-    "comment": "list plans",
-    "request": { "uri": "plans" },
-    "response": {
-      "store": "plans",
-      "check": [
-        {"condition": "json.length > 0"}
-      ]
-    }
-  },
-
-  {
-    "comment": "add a payment method and preferred plan",
+    "comment": "add a payment method",
     "before": "stripe_tokenize_card",
     "request": {
       "uri": "me/paymentMethods",
       "method": "put",
       "entity": {
         "paymentMethodType": "credit",
-        "paymentInfo": "{{stripeToken}}",
-        "preferredPlan": "{{plans.[0].name}}"
+        "paymentInfo": "{{stripeToken}}"
       }
     }
   },
diff --git a/bubble-server/src/test/resources/models/tests/network/preferred_plan_launch.json b/bubble-server/src/test/resources/models/tests/network/preferred_plan_launch.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4ffb782d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bubble-server/src/test/resources/models/tests/network/preferred_plan_launch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+[
+  {
+    "comment": "create another account and login",
+    "include": "new_account",
+    "params": {
+      "email": "pref_plan_launch@example.com",
+      "verifyEmail": true
+    }
+  },
+
+  {
+    "comment": "list plans",
+    "request": { "uri": "plans" },
+    "response": {
+      "store": "plans",
+      "check": [
+        {"condition": "json.length > 0"}
+      ]
+    }
+  },
+
+  {
+    "comment": "add a payment method and preferred plan",
+    "before": "stripe_tokenize_card",
+    "request": {
+      "uri": "me/paymentMethods",
+      "method": "put",
+      "entity": {
+        "paymentMethodType": "credit",
+        "paymentInfo": "{{stripeToken}}",
+        "preferredPlan": "{{plans.[0].name}}"
+      }
+    }
+  },
+
+  {
+    "comment": "add account plan",
+    "request": {
+      "uri": "me/plans",
+      "method": "put",
+      "entity": {}
+    },
+    "response": { "store": "plan" }
+  },
+
+  {
+    "comment": "start the network. sets up the first node, which does the rest",
+    "request": {
+      "uri": "me/networks/{{ plan.name }}/actions/start",
+      "method": "post"
+    },
+    "response": {
+      "store": "<<networkVar>>"
+    }
+  },
+
+  {
+    "comment": "list networks, verify new network is starting",
+    "before": "sleep 10s",
+    "request": { "uri": "me/networks" },
+    "response": {
+      "check": [
+        {"condition": "json.length === 1"},
+        {"condition": "json[0].getName() === '{{plan.name}}'"},
+        {"condition": "json[0].getState().name() === 'starting'"}
+      ]
+    }
+  }
+]
\ No newline at end of file