Presented herein are techniques for preventing an electrical arc upon disconnection of a network cable. A method can include monitoring a network cable connected to a device for faults at a remote location from a connector of the network cable by observing conditions on the network cable of power applied to the network cable, wherein the network cable is for sending data and power. The method can further include detecting a fault on the network cable, wherein the fault was introduced intentionally at the connector prior to disconnecting the connector from the device. The method can further include terminating power at the remote location that is sent over the network cable to prevent an electrical arc upon disconnecting the connector from the device.