diff --git a/src/nm-active-connection.c b/src/nm-active-connection.c
index 4c77d45bb1..ae8e9e7ed2 100644
--- a/src/nm-active-connection.c
+++ b/src/nm-active-connection.c
@@ -55,7 +55,12 @@ typedef struct _NMActiveConnectionPrivate {
 	bool master_ready:1;
 
 	NMActivationType activation_type:3;
-	NMActivationReason activation_reason:3;
+
+	/* capture the original reason why the connection was activated.
+	 * For example with NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_ASSUME, the connection
+	 * will later change to become fully managed. But the original
+	 * reason never changes. */
+	NMActivationReason activation_reason:4;
 
 	NMAuthSubject *subject;
 	NMActiveConnection *master;
@@ -1422,6 +1427,7 @@ constructed (GObject *object)
 	}
 
 	g_return_if_fail (priv->subject);
+	g_return_if_fail (priv->activation_reason != NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_UNSET);
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/src/nm-manager.c b/src/nm-manager.c
index 4a831f3e8c..25ba1c278a 100644
--- a/src/nm-manager.c
+++ b/src/nm-manager.c
@@ -2562,7 +2562,7 @@ recheck_assume_connection (NMManager *self,
 		                                 device,
 		                                 subject,
 		                                 generated ? NM_ACTIVATION_TYPE_EXTERNAL : NM_ACTIVATION_TYPE_ASSUME,
-		                                 NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_AUTOCONNECT,
+		                                 generated ? NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_EXTERNAL : NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_ASSUME,
 		                                 &error);
 
 		if (!active) {
diff --git a/src/nm-types.h b/src/nm-types.h
index fb48dfef39..1477d22696 100644
--- a/src/nm-types.h
+++ b/src/nm-types.h
@@ -75,10 +75,12 @@ typedef enum {
 } NMActivationType;
 
 typedef enum {
-	NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_UNSET = 0,
-	NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_AUTOCONNECT = 1,
-	NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_AUTOCONNECT_SLAVES = 2,
-	NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_USER_REQUEST = 3,
+	NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_UNSET,
+	NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_EXTERNAL,
+	NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_ASSUME,
+	NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_AUTOCONNECT,
+	NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_AUTOCONNECT_SLAVES,
+	NM_ACTIVATION_REASON_USER_REQUEST,
 } NMActivationReason;
 
 typedef enum {