diff --git a/types/conf.go b/types/conf.go
index 88c95a4a3..6180956b7 100644
--- a/types/conf.go
+++ b/types/conf.go
@@ -330,3 +330,42 @@ func CheckSystemNamespaces(namespace string, systemNamespaces []string) bool {
 	}
 	return false
 }
+
+// UnmarshalJSON unmarshal Network Selection Annotation. This also supports
+// the deprecated "interfaceRequest" property.
+func (net *NetworkSelectionElement) UnmarshalJSON(bytes []byte) error {
+	var networkSelectionMap map[string]string
+
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(bytes, &networkSelectionMap); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if name, ok := networkSelectionMap["name"]; ok {
+		net.Name = name
+	} else {
+		return logging.Errorf(`UnmarshalJSON(): "name" was not provided`)
+	}
+
+	if namespace, ok := networkSelectionMap["namespace"]; ok {
+		net.Namespace = namespace
+	}
+
+	if ips, ok := networkSelectionMap["ips"]; ok {
+		net.IPRequest = ips
+	}
+
+	if mac, ok := networkSelectionMap["mac"]; ok {
+		net.MacRequest = mac
+	}
+
+	// compatibility pre v3.2
+	if ifName, ok := networkSelectionMap["interfaceRequest"]; ok {
+		net.InterfaceRequest = ifName
+	}
+
+	if ifName, ok := networkSelectionMap["interface"]; ok {
+		net.InterfaceRequest = ifName
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}