diff --git a/src/devices/nm-device.c b/src/devices/nm-device.c
index 1b25d957a2..a89e88d434 100644
--- a/src/devices/nm-device.c
+++ b/src/devices/nm-device.c
@@ -1593,6 +1593,7 @@ device_link_changed (NMDevice *self)
 	const NMPlatformLink *pllink;
 	int ifindex;
 	gboolean was_up;
+	gboolean update_unmanaged_specs = FALSE;
 
 	priv->device_link_changed_id = 0;
 
@@ -1639,6 +1640,11 @@ device_link_changed (NMDevice *self)
 		/* If the device has no explicit ip_iface, then changing iface changes ip_iface too. */
 		ip_ifname_changed = !priv->ip_iface;
 
+		if (nm_device_get_unmanaged_flags (self, NM_UNMANAGED_PLATFORM_INIT))
+			nm_device_set_unmanaged_by_user_config (self, nm_connection_provider_get_unmanaged_specs (priv->con_provider));
+		else
+			update_unmanaged_specs = TRUE;
+
 		_notify (self, PROP_IFACE);
 		if (ip_ifname_changed)
 			_notify (self, PROP_IP_IFACE);
@@ -1712,6 +1718,9 @@ device_link_changed (NMDevice *self)
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (update_unmanaged_specs)
+		nm_device_set_unmanaged_by_user_config (self, nm_connection_provider_get_unmanaged_specs (priv->con_provider));
+
 	return G_SOURCE_REMOVE;
 }