diff --git a/doc/changes/unreleased.md b/doc/changes/unreleased.md
index d8305ab..0d66366 100644
--- a/doc/changes/unreleased.md
+++ b/doc/changes/unreleased.md
@@ -2,3 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Changes
 
+### Bug fixing
+
+* #143: itde_manager.bring_itde_up() fails if the container is not connected to the network 
+  it is assumed to be connected to.
diff --git a/exasol/nb_connector/itde_manager.py b/exasol/nb_connector/itde_manager.py
index dde0ba8..e623bd7 100644
--- a/exasol/nb_connector/itde_manager.py
+++ b/exasol/nb_connector/itde_manager.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ def _remove_current_container_from_db_network(conf: Secrets):
         if not container:
             return
         network = _get_docker_network(docker_client, network_name)
-        if network:
+        if network and _is_container_connected_to_network(container, network):
             network.disconnect(container.id)
 
 
diff --git a/test/integration/test_itde_manager_in_docker_container.py b/test/integration/test_itde_manager_in_docker_container.py
index 176e940..bcbc8f6 100644
--- a/test/integration/test_itde_manager_in_docker_container.py
+++ b/test/integration/test_itde_manager_in_docker_container.py
@@ -147,7 +147,13 @@ def run_test():
         secrets.save(AILabConfig.disk_size.value, "4")
 
         bring_itde_up(secrets)
+        # Remember the network name
+        network_name = secrets.get(AILabConfig.itde_network)
         take_itde_down(secrets)
+        # Restore the network name. This simulates the situation when a new AI-Lab container
+        # replaces an old one. It is not connected to the network, but the network name is
+        # nonetheless present in the secret store.
+        secrets.save(AILabConfig.itde_network, network_name)
         bring_itde_up(secrets)
         take_itde_down(secrets)