diff --git a/src/nm-manager.c b/src/nm-manager.c
index ce0d7c482f..0bf6a75102 100644
--- a/src/nm-manager.c
+++ b/src/nm-manager.c
@@ -2487,7 +2487,12 @@ get_existing_connection (NMManager *self,
 	if (ifindex) {
 		int master_ifindex = nm_platform_link_get_master (priv->platform, ifindex);
 
-		if (master_ifindex) {
+		/* Check that the master is activating before assuming a
+		 * slave connection. However, ignore ovs-system master as
+		 * we never manage it.
+		 */
+		if (   master_ifindex
+		    && nm_platform_link_get_type (priv->platform, master_ifindex) != NM_LINK_TYPE_OPENVSWITCH) {
 			master = nm_manager_get_device_by_ifindex (self, master_ifindex);
 			if (!master) {
 				_LOG2D (LOGD_DEVICE, device, "assume: don't assume because "