diff --git a/inxi b/inxi
index 96287a9..ab724de 100755
--- a/inxi
+++ b/inxi
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ####  Script Name: inxi
 ####  version: 1.7.8
 ####  Date: June 22 2011
-####  Patch Number: 02
+####  Patch Number: 03
 ########################################################################
 ####  SPECIAL THANKS
 ########################################################################
@@ -4319,6 +4319,8 @@ get_network_advanced_data()
 			# note although this may exist technically don't use it, it's a virtual path
 			# and causes weird cat errors when there's a missing file as well as a virtual path
 			# /sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:02:02.0/net/eth1
+			# real paths are: /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1e/0/0000:02:02.0/net/eth1/uevent
+			# and on older debian kernels: /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:02:02.0/net:eth1/uevent
 			working_path="/sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:${a_network_adv_working[4]}"
 			# working_path=$( ls /sys/devices/pci*/*/0000:${a_network_adv_working[4]}/net/*/uevent  )
 		else
@@ -4383,17 +4385,17 @@ get_network_advanced_data()
 		log_function_data "POST: working_path: $working_path\nif_path: $if_path - if_id: $if_id"
 		
 		if [[ -n $if_path ]];then
-			if [[ -f $working_path/speed ]];then
-				speed=$( cat $working_path/speed )
+			if [[ -r $working_path/speed ]];then
+				speed=$( cat $working_path/speed 2>/dev/null )
 			fi
-			if [[ -f $working_path/duplex ]];then
-				duplex=$( cat $working_path/duplex )
+			if [[ -r $working_path/duplex ]];then
+				duplex=$( cat $working_path/duplex 2>/dev/null )
 			fi
-			if [[ -f $working_path/address ]];then
-				mac_id=$( cat $working_path/address )
+			if [[ -r $working_path/address ]];then
+				mac_id=$( cat $working_path/address 2>/dev/null )
 			fi
-			if [[ -f $working_path/operstate ]];then
-				oper_state=$( cat $working_path/operstate )
+			if [[ -r $working_path/operstate ]];then
+				oper_state=$( cat $working_path/operstate 2>/dev/null )
 			fi
 		fi