diff --git a/src/devices/ovs/nm-ovs-factory.c b/src/devices/ovs/nm-ovs-factory.c
index 5e83ab29fd..10b6d7f419 100644
--- a/src/devices/ovs/nm-ovs-factory.c
+++ b/src/devices/ovs/nm-ovs-factory.c
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ ovsdb_device_removed(NMOvsdb *        ovsdb,
 
     device_state = nm_device_get_state(device);
 
-    if (device_type == NM_DEVICE_TYPE_OVS_INTERFACE && device_state > NM_DEVICE_STATE_DISCONNECTED
+    if (device_type == NM_DEVICE_TYPE_OVS_INTERFACE && nm_device_get_act_request(device)
         && device_state < NM_DEVICE_STATE_DEACTIVATING) {
         nm_device_state_changed(device,
                                 NM_DEVICE_STATE_DEACTIVATING,