diff --git a/src/modules/netinstall/Config.cpp b/src/modules/netinstall/Config.cpp
index af4ae8e50..ebcda3b8b 100644
--- a/src/modules/netinstall/Config.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/netinstall/Config.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ void
 Config::loadGroupList( const QVariantList& groupData )
 {
     m_model->setupModelData( groupData );
+    emit statusReady();
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/modules/netinstall/Config.h b/src/modules/netinstall/Config.h
index 372c82bee..781c9be5d 100644
--- a/src/modules/netinstall/Config.h
+++ b/src/modules/netinstall/Config.h
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ public:
     PackageModel* model() const { return m_model; }
 
 signals:
-    void statusChanged( QString status );
+    void statusChanged( QString status );  ///< Something changed
+    void statusReady();  ///< Loading groups is complete
 
 private slots:
     void receivedGroupData();  ///< From async-loading group data
diff --git a/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallPage.cpp b/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallPage.cpp
index ab3e1a933..688e99b09 100644
--- a/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallPage.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallPage.cpp
@@ -34,11 +34,16 @@
 #include <QHeaderView>
 #include <QNetworkReply>
 
-NetInstallPage::NetInstallPage( QWidget* parent )
+NetInstallPage::NetInstallPage( Config* c, QWidget* parent )
     : QWidget( parent )
+    , m_config( c )
     , ui( new Ui::Page_NetInst )
 {
     ui->setupUi( this );
+    ui->groupswidget->setModel( c->model() );
+    connect( c, &Config::statusChanged, this, &NetInstallPage::setStatus );
+    connect( c, &Config::statusReady, this, &NetInstallPage::expandGroups );
+
     setPageTitle( nullptr );
     CALAMARES_RETRANSLATE_SLOT( &NetInstallPage::retranslate );
 }
@@ -63,16 +68,17 @@ NetInstallPage::setPageTitle( CalamaresUtils::Locale::TranslatedString* t )
 void
 NetInstallPage::retranslate()
 {
-    if ( ui && m_title )
+    if ( m_title )
     {
         ui->label->setText( m_title->get() );  // That's get() on the TranslatedString
     }
+    ui->netinst_status->setText( m_config->status() );
 }
 
 void
-NetInstallPage::setModel( QAbstractItemModel* model )
+NetInstallPage::expandGroups()
 {
-    ui->groupswidget->setModel( model );
+    auto* model = m_config->model();
     // Go backwards because expanding a group may cause rows to appear below it
     for ( int i = model->rowCount() - 1; i >= 0; --i )
     {
@@ -84,6 +90,11 @@ NetInstallPage::setModel( QAbstractItemModel* model )
     }
 }
 
+void
+NetInstallPage::setStatus( QString s )
+{
+    ui->netinst_status->setText( s );
+}
 
 void
 NetInstallPage::onActivate()
diff --git a/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallPage.h b/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallPage.h
index 4db0b2f5d..13a106eaf 100644
--- a/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallPage.h
+++ b/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallPage.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #ifndef NETINSTALLPAGE_H
 #define NETINSTALLPAGE_H
 
+#include "Config.h"
 #include "PackageModel.h"
 #include "PackageTreeItem.h"
 
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ class NetInstallPage : public QWidget
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
-    NetInstallPage( QWidget* parent = nullptr );
+    NetInstallPage( Config* config, QWidget* parent = nullptr );
     virtual ~NetInstallPage();
 
     /** @brief Sets the page title
@@ -56,24 +57,21 @@ public:
      */
     void setPageTitle( CalamaresUtils::Locale::TranslatedString* );
 
-    /** @brief Sets the model of packages to display
-     *
-     * While setting up the UI, expand entries that should be pre-expanded.
-     *
-     * Follows the *expanded* key / the startExpanded field in the
-     * group entries of the model. Call this after filling up the model.
-     */
-    void setModel( QAbstractItemModel* );
-
     void onActivate();
 
 public slots:
     void retranslate();
+    void setStatus( QString s );
 
-signals:
-    void checkReady( bool );
+    /** @brief Expand entries that should be pre-expanded.
+     *
+     * Follows the *expanded* key / the startExpanded field in the
+     * group entries of the model. Call this after filling up the model.
+     */
+    void expandGroups();
 
 private:
+    Config* m_config;
     Ui::Page_NetInst* ui;
 
     std::unique_ptr< CalamaresUtils::Locale::TranslatedString > m_title;  // Above the treeview
diff --git a/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallViewStep.cpp b/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallViewStep.cpp
index 0b5fb8b15..3eba788db 100644
--- a/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallViewStep.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallViewStep.cpp
@@ -32,12 +32,11 @@ CALAMARES_PLUGIN_FACTORY_DEFINITION( NetInstallViewStepFactory, registerPlugin<
 
 NetInstallViewStep::NetInstallViewStep( QObject* parent )
     : Calamares::ViewStep( parent )
-    , m_widget( new NetInstallPage() )
+    , m_widget( new NetInstallPage( &m_config ) )
     , m_sidebarLabel( nullptr )
     , m_nextEnabled( false )
 {
-    emit nextStatusChanged( true );
-    connect( m_widget, &NetInstallPage::checkReady, this, &NetInstallViewStep::nextIsReady );
+    connect( &m_config, &Config::statusReady, this, &NetInstallViewStep::nextIsReady );
 }
 
 
@@ -86,7 +85,7 @@ NetInstallViewStep::widget()
 bool
 NetInstallViewStep::isNextEnabled() const
 {
-    return m_nextEnabled;
+    return !m_config.required() || m_nextEnabled;
 }
 
 
@@ -192,17 +191,16 @@ NetInstallViewStep::onLeave()
 }
 
 void
-NetInstallViewStep::nextIsReady( bool b )
+NetInstallViewStep::nextIsReady()
 {
-    m_nextEnabled = b;
-    emit nextStatusChanged( b );
+    m_nextEnabled = true;
+    emit nextStatusChanged( true );
 }
 
 void
 NetInstallViewStep::setConfigurationMap( const QVariantMap& configurationMap )
 {
     m_config.setRequired( CalamaresUtils::getBool( configurationMap, "required", false ) );
-    m_widget->setModel( m_config.model() );
 
     QString groupsUrl = CalamaresUtils::getString( configurationMap, "groupsUrl" );
     if ( !groupsUrl.isEmpty() )
diff --git a/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallViewStep.h b/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallViewStep.h
index 2dcf464c3..d2114a346 100644
--- a/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallViewStep.h
+++ b/src/modules/netinstall/NetInstallViewStep.h
@@ -59,14 +59,14 @@ public:
     void setConfigurationMap( const QVariantMap& configurationMap ) override;
 
 public slots:
-    void nextIsReady( bool );
+    void nextIsReady();
 
 private:
     Config m_config;
 
     NetInstallPage* m_widget;
     CalamaresUtils::Locale::TranslatedString* m_sidebarLabel;  // As it appears in the sidebar
-    bool m_nextEnabled;
+    bool m_nextEnabled = false;
 };
 
 CALAMARES_PLUGIN_FACTORY_DECLARATION( NetInstallViewStepFactory )