unfortunate that you can't start it without the ethernet interface in UP state. if you start it while the ethernet cable is disconnected, it will start the daemon but not actually "listen" on the device, even after the cable gets plugged in.
my solution: create a bridge with your ethernet device and add a dummy device and UP the said summy device, thereby UPing the bridge.
my solution: create a bridge with your ethernet device and add a dummy device and UP the said summy device, thereby UPing the bridge.