diff --git a/src/EtherCard.cpp b/src/EtherCard.cpp
index f752a9bf..60b02b70 100644
--- a/src/EtherCard.cpp
+++ b/src/EtherCard.cpp
@@ -31,11 +31,23 @@ uint16_t EtherCard::delaycnt = 0; //request gateway ARP lookup
 uint8_t EtherCard::begin (const uint16_t size,
                           const uint8_t* macaddr,
                           uint8_t csPin) {
+    copyMac(mymac, macaddr);
+    return begin(size, csPin);
+}
+
+uint8_t EtherCard::begin (const uint16_t size,
+                          const __FlashStringHelper *macaddr,
+                          uint8_t csPin) {
+    copyMac(mymac, macaddr);
+    return begin(size, csPin);
+}
+
+/// helper for EtherCard::begin(3)
+inline uint8_t EtherCard::begin (const uint16_t size, uint8_t csPin) {
     using_dhcp = false;
 #if ETHERCARD_STASH
     Stash::initMap();
 #endif
-    copyMac(mymac, macaddr);
     return initialize(size, mymac, csPin);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/EtherCard.h b/src/EtherCard.h
index 703b5990..8b23051a 100644
--- a/src/EtherCard.h
+++ b/src/EtherCard.h
@@ -129,6 +129,14 @@ class EtherCard : public Ethernet {
     */
     static uint8_t begin (const uint16_t size, const uint8_t* macaddr,
                           uint8_t csPin = SS);
+    /**   @brief  Initialise the network interface using a MAC in PROGMEM
+    *     @param  size Size of data buffer
+    *     @param  macaddr Hardware address to assign to the network interface (6 bytes), read from program space
+    *     @param  csPin Arduino pin number connected to chip select. Default = 8
+    *     @return <i>uint8_t</i> Firmware version or zero on failure.
+    */
+    static uint8_t begin (const uint16_t size, const __FlashStringHelper * macaddr,
+                          uint8_t csPin = SS);
 
     /**   @brief  Configure network interface with static IP
     *     @param  my_ip IP address (4 bytes). 0 for no change.
@@ -394,6 +402,13 @@ class EtherCard : public Ethernet {
     */
     static void copyMac (uint8_t *dst, const uint8_t *src);
 
+    /**   @brief  Copies a hardware address from PROGMEM
+    *     @param  dst Pointer to the 6 byte destination
+    *     @param  src Pointer to the 6 byte destination in program space
+    *     @note   There is no check of source or destination size. Ensure both are 6 bytes
+    */
+    static void copyMac (uint8_t *dst, const __FlashStringHelper *src);
+
     /**   @brief  Output to serial port in dotted decimal IP format
     *     @param  buf Pointer to 4 byte IP address
     *     @note   There is no check of source or destination size. Ensure both are 4 bytes
@@ -469,6 +484,14 @@ class EtherCard : public Ethernet {
     /**   @brief  Return the payload length of the current Tcp package
     */
     static uint16_t getTcpPayloadLength();
+private:
+    /**   @brief  Initialise the network interface
+    *     @param  size Size of data buffer
+    *     @param  csPin Arduino pin number connected to chip select. Default = 8
+    *     @return <i>uint8_t</i> Firmware version or zero on failure.
+    *     @note   assumes the MAC address has already been set
+    */
+    inline static uint8_t begin (const uint16_t size, uint8_t csPin = SS);
 };
 
 extern EtherCard ether; //!< Global presentation of EtherCard class
diff --git a/src/webutil.cpp b/src/webutil.cpp
index 4eb9ba50..ce62752a 100644
--- a/src/webutil.cpp
+++ b/src/webutil.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ void EtherCard::copyMac (uint8_t *dst, const uint8_t *src) {
     memcpy(dst, src, ETH_LEN);
 }
 
+void EtherCard::copyMac (uint8_t *dst, const __FlashStringHelper *src) {
+    memcpy_P(dst, src, ETH_LEN);
+}
+
 void EtherCard::printIp (const char* msg, const uint8_t *buf) {
     Serial.print(msg);
     EtherCard::printIp(buf);