diff --git a/pcbnew/class_board.h b/pcbnew/class_board.h
index 41777b60c8..cbe0fe7fd4 100644
--- a/pcbnew/class_board.h
+++ b/pcbnew/class_board.h
@@ -795,6 +795,11 @@ public:
      */
     NETINFO_ITEM* FindNet( const wxString& aNetname ) const;
 
+    /**
+     * Function AppendNet
+     * adds a new net description item to the current board.
+     * @param aNewNet is the new description item.
+     */
     void AppendNet( NETINFO_ITEM* aNewNet )
     {
         m_NetInfo.AppendNet( aNewNet );
diff --git a/pcbnew/class_netinfo.h b/pcbnew/class_netinfo.h
index 253ca9c48b..3b28a9ed8f 100644
--- a/pcbnew/class_netinfo.h
+++ b/pcbnew/class_netinfo.h
@@ -254,6 +254,7 @@ public:
     NETINFO_ITEM* GetNetItem( int aNetCode ) const
     {
         NETCODES_MAP::const_iterator result = m_netCodes.find( aNetCode );
+
         if( result != m_netCodes.end() )
             return (*result).second;
 
@@ -268,6 +269,7 @@ public:
     NETINFO_ITEM* GetNetItem( const wxString& aNetName ) const
     {
         NETNAMES_MAP::const_iterator result = m_netNames.find( aNetName );
+
         if( result != m_netNames.end() )
             return (*result).second;
 
@@ -283,7 +285,8 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * Function Append
-     * adds \a aNewElement to the end of the list.
+     * adds \a aNewElement to the end of the list. Negative net code means it is going to be
+     * auto-assigned.
      */
     void AppendNet( NETINFO_ITEM* aNewElement );
 
@@ -421,7 +424,7 @@ private:
      * Function getFreeNetCode
      * returns the first available net code that is not used by any other net.
      */
-    int getFreeNetCode() const;
+    int getFreeNetCode();
 
     BOARD* m_Parent;
 
@@ -430,6 +433,8 @@ private:
 
     std::vector<D_PAD*> m_PadsFullList;         ///< contains all pads, sorted by pad's netname.
                                                 ///< can be used in ratsnest calculations.
+
+    int m_newNetCode;                           ///< possible value for new net code assignment
 };
 
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/class_netinfolist.cpp b/pcbnew/class_netinfolist.cpp
index 5f73ca0a98..45e1915e9f 100644
--- a/pcbnew/class_netinfolist.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/class_netinfolist.cpp
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ NETINFO_LIST::NETINFO_LIST( BOARD* aParent ) : m_Parent( aParent )
 {
     // Make sure that the unconnected net has number 0
     AppendNet( new NETINFO_ITEM( aParent, wxEmptyString, 0 ) );
+
+    m_newNetCode = 0;
 }
 
 
@@ -63,14 +65,27 @@ void NETINFO_LIST::clear()
     m_PadsFullList.clear();
     m_netNames.clear();
     m_netCodes.clear();
+    m_newNetCode = 0;
 }
 
 
 void NETINFO_LIST::AppendNet( NETINFO_ITEM* aNewElement )
 {
+    // if there is a net with such name then just assign the correct number
+    NETINFO_ITEM* sameName = GetNetItem( aNewElement->GetNetname() );
+
+    if( sameName != NULL )
+    {
+        aNewElement->m_NetCode = sameName->GetNet();
+
+        return;
+    }
+    // be sure that net codes are consecutive
     // negative net code means that it has to be auto assigned
-    if( aNewElement->m_NetCode < 0 )
-        const_cast<int&>( aNewElement->m_NetCode ) = getFreeNetCode();
+    else if( ( aNewElement->m_NetCode != (int) m_netCodes.size() ) || ( aNewElement->m_NetCode < 0 ) )
+    {
+        aNewElement->m_NetCode = getFreeNetCode();
+    }
 
     // net names & codes are supposed to be unique
     assert( GetNetItem( aNewElement->GetNetname() ) == NULL );
@@ -201,10 +216,8 @@ void NETINFO_LIST::buildPadsFullList()
 }
 
 
-int NETINFO_LIST::getFreeNetCode() const
+int NETINFO_LIST::getFreeNetCode()
 {
-    static int m_newNetCode = 0;
-
     do {
         if( m_newNetCode < 0 )
             m_newNetCode = 0;
diff --git a/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.cpp b/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.cpp
index 9ddd1c9c4a..c369ebf65c 100644
--- a/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.cpp
@@ -502,13 +502,12 @@ void LEGACY_PLUGIN::loadGENERAL()
         else if( TESTLINE( "Nmodule" ) )
         {
             NbMod = intParse( line + SZ( "Nmodule" ) );
-        }
+        }*/
 
         else if( TESTLINE( "Nnets" ) )
         {
-            NbNets = intParse( line + SZ( "Nnets" ) );
+            m_netCodes.resize( intParse( line + SZ( "Nnets" ) ) );
         }
-        */
 
         else if( TESTLINE( "$EndGENERAL" ) )
             return;     // preferred exit
@@ -1305,13 +1304,15 @@ void LEGACY_PLUGIN::loadPAD( MODULE* aModule )
             char    buf[1024];  // can be fairly long
             int     netcode = intParse( line + SZ( "Ne" ), &data );
 
-            pad->SetNetCode( netcode );
+            // Store the new code mapping
+            pad->SetNetCode( m_netCodes[netcode] );
 
             // read Netname
             ReadDelimitedText( buf, data, sizeof(buf) );
 #ifndef NDEBUG
             if( m_board )
-                assert( m_board->FindNet( netcode )->GetNetname() == FROM_UTF8( StrPurge( buf ) ) );
+                assert( m_board->FindNet( m_netCodes[netcode] )->GetNetname() ==
+                        FROM_UTF8( StrPurge( buf ) ) );
 #endif /* NDEBUG */
         }
 
@@ -1822,6 +1823,7 @@ void LEGACY_PLUGIN::loadNETINFO_ITEM()
 
     NETINFO_ITEM*   net = NULL;
     char*           line;
+    int             netCode;
 
     while( ( line = READLINE( m_reader ) ) != NULL )
     {
@@ -1831,7 +1833,7 @@ void LEGACY_PLUGIN::loadNETINFO_ITEM()
         {
             // e.g. "Na 58 "/cpu.sch/PAD7"\r\n"
 
-            int netCode = intParse( line + SZ( "Na" ), &data );
+            netCode = intParse( line + SZ( "Na" ), &data );
 
             ReadDelimitedText( buf, data, sizeof(buf) );
             net = new NETINFO_ITEM( m_board, FROM_UTF8( buf ), netCode );
@@ -1842,9 +1844,15 @@ void LEGACY_PLUGIN::loadNETINFO_ITEM()
             // net 0 should be already in list, so store this net
             // if it is not the net 0, or if the net 0 does not exists.
             if( net != NULL && ( net->GetNet() > 0 || m_board->FindNet( 0 ) == NULL ) )
+            {
                 m_board->AppendNet( net );
+                m_netCodes[netCode] = net->GetNet();
+            }
             else
+            {
                 delete net;
+            }
+
             return;     // preferred exit
         }
     }
@@ -2094,7 +2102,7 @@ void LEGACY_PLUGIN::loadTrackList( int aStructType )
                 via->SetLayerPair( LAYER_N_FRONT, LAYER_N_BACK );
         }
 
-        newTrack->SetNetCode( net_code );
+        newTrack->SetNetCode( m_netCodes[net_code] );
         newTrack->SetState( flags, true );
 
         m_board->Add( newTrack );
@@ -2242,7 +2250,7 @@ void LEGACY_PLUGIN::loadZONE_CONTAINER()
             // Init the net code only, not the netname, to be sure
             // the zone net name is the name read in file.
             // (When mismatch, the user will be prompted in DRC, to fix the actual name)
-            zc->BOARD_CONNECTED_ITEM::SetNetCode( netcode );
+            zc->BOARD_CONNECTED_ITEM::SetNetCode( m_netCodes[netcode] );
         }
 
         else if( TESTLINE( "ZLayer" ) )     // layer found
diff --git a/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.h b/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.h
index ee05599591..96747bf84d 100644
--- a/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.h
+++ b/pcbnew/legacy_plugin.h
@@ -126,8 +126,9 @@ protected:
     int             m_loading_format_version;   ///< which BOARD_FORMAT_VERSION am I Load()ing?
     LP_CACHE*       m_cache;
 
-    NETINFO_MAPPING*    m_mapping;  ///< mapping for net codes, so only not empty net codes
+    NETINFO_MAPPING*    m_mapping;  ///< mapping for net codes, so only not empty nets
                                     ///< are stored with consecutive integers as net codes
+    std::vector<int>    m_netCodes; ///< net codes mapping for boards being loaded
 
     /// initialize PLUGIN like a constructor would, and futz with fresh BOARD if needed.
     void    init( const PROPERTIES* aProperties );
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcb_parser.cpp b/pcbnew/pcb_parser.cpp
index a96034c48d..8c883099ad 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcb_parser.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/pcb_parser.cpp
@@ -504,6 +504,11 @@ void PCB_PARSER::parseGeneralSection() throw( IO_ERROR, PARSE_ERROR )
             NeedRIGHT();
             break;
 
+        case T_nets:
+            m_netCodes.resize( parseInt( "nets number" ) );
+            NeedRIGHT();
+            break;
+
         case T_no_connects:
             m_board->SetUnconnectedNetCount( parseInt( "no connect count" ) );
             NeedRIGHT();
@@ -1059,7 +1064,7 @@ void PCB_PARSER::parseNETINFO_ITEM() throw( IO_ERROR, PARSE_ERROR )
     wxCHECK_RET( CurTok() == T_net,
                  wxT( "Cannot parse " ) + GetTokenString( CurTok() ) + wxT( " as net." ) );
 
-    int number = parseInt( "net number" );
+    int netCode = parseInt( "net number" );
 
     NeedSYMBOLorNUMBER();
     wxString name = FromUTF8();
@@ -1069,10 +1074,13 @@ void PCB_PARSER::parseNETINFO_ITEM() throw( IO_ERROR, PARSE_ERROR )
     // net 0 should be already in list, so store this net
     // if it is not the net 0, or if the net 0 does not exists.
     // (TODO: a better test.)
-    if( number > 0 || m_board->FindNet( 0 ) == NULL )
+    if( netCode > 0 || m_board->FindNet( 0 ) == NULL )
     {
-        NETINFO_ITEM* net = new NETINFO_ITEM( m_board, name, number );
+        NETINFO_ITEM* net = new NETINFO_ITEM( m_board, name, netCode );
         m_board->AppendNet( net );
+
+        // Store the new code mapping
+        m_netCodes[netCode] = net->GetNet();
     }
 }
 
@@ -2193,7 +2201,7 @@ D_PAD* PCB_PARSER::parseD_PAD( MODULE* aParent ) throw( IO_ERROR, PARSE_ERROR )
             break;
 
         case T_net:
-            pad->SetNetCode( parseInt( "net number" ) );
+            pad->SetNetCode( m_netCodes[parseInt( "net number" )] );
             NeedSYMBOLorNUMBER();
             assert( FromUTF8() == m_board->FindNet( pad->GetNetCode() )->GetNetname() );
             NeedRIGHT();
@@ -2291,7 +2299,7 @@ TRACK* PCB_PARSER::parseTRACK() throw( IO_ERROR, PARSE_ERROR )
             break;
 
         case T_net:
-            track->SetNetCode( parseInt( "net number" ) );
+            track->SetNetCode( m_netCodes[parseInt( "net number" )] );
             break;
 
         case T_tstamp:
@@ -2369,7 +2377,7 @@ VIA* PCB_PARSER::parseVIA() throw( IO_ERROR, PARSE_ERROR )
             break;
 
         case T_net:
-            via->SetNetCode( parseInt( "net number" ) );
+            via->SetNetCode( m_netCodes[parseInt( "net number" )] );
             NeedRIGHT();
             break;
 
@@ -2421,7 +2429,7 @@ ZONE_CONTAINER* PCB_PARSER::parseZONE_CONTAINER() throw( IO_ERROR, PARSE_ERROR )
             // Init the net code only, not the netname, to be sure
             // the zone net name is the name read in file.
             // (When mismatch, the user will be prompted in DRC, to fix the actual name)
-            zone->SetNetCode( parseInt( "net number" ) );
+            zone->SetNetCode( m_netCodes[parseInt( "net number" )] );
             NeedRIGHT();
             break;
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/pcb_parser.h b/pcbnew/pcb_parser.h
index eeb4faf9d6..a07beb3bec 100644
--- a/pcbnew/pcb_parser.h
+++ b/pcbnew/pcb_parser.h
@@ -64,10 +64,10 @@ class PCB_PARSER : public PCB_LEXER
     typedef boost::unordered_map< std::string, LAYER_NUM > LAYER_NUM_MAP;
     typedef boost::unordered_map< std::string, LAYER_MSK > LAYER_MSK_MAP;
 
-    BOARD*          m_board;
-    LAYER_NUM_MAP   m_layerIndices;     ///< map layer name to it's index
-    LAYER_MSK_MAP   m_layerMasks;       ///< map layer names to their masks
-
+    BOARD*              m_board;
+    LAYER_NUM_MAP       m_layerIndices;     ///< map layer name to it's index
+    LAYER_MSK_MAP       m_layerMasks;       ///< map layer names to their masks
+    std::vector<int>    m_netCodes;         ///< net codes mapping for boards being loaded
 
     /**
      * Function init
diff --git a/pcbnew/ratsnest_data.cpp b/pcbnew/ratsnest_data.cpp
index 4b4c063485..f6638a3835 100644
--- a/pcbnew/ratsnest_data.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/ratsnest_data.cpp
@@ -993,6 +993,9 @@ void RN_DATA::ProcessBoard()
 
 void RN_DATA::Recalculate( int aNet )
 {
+    if( m_board->GetNetCount() > m_nets.size() )
+        m_nets.resize( m_board->GetNetCount() );
+
     if( aNet < 0 )              // Recompute everything
     {
         unsigned int i, netCount;