diff --git a/src/core/devices/nm-device-loopback.c b/src/core/devices/nm-device-loopback.c
index 7a15607f81..269c772a4f 100644
--- a/src/core/devices/nm-device-loopback.c
+++ b/src/core/devices/nm-device-loopback.c
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ nm_device_loopback_class_init(NMDeviceLoopbackClass *klass)
     device_class->update_connection                      = update_connection;
     device_class->act_stage1_prepare_set_hwaddr_ethernet = TRUE;
     device_class->get_configured_mtu                     = get_configured_mtu;
+    device_class->allow_autoconnect_on_external          = TRUE;
 }
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/core/devices/nm-device.c b/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
index 60619a3d85..fc87f831de 100644
--- a/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
+++ b/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
@@ -8207,6 +8207,9 @@ nm_device_autoconnect_allowed(NMDevice *self)
     GValue           instance = G_VALUE_INIT;
     GValue           retval   = G_VALUE_INIT;
 
+    if (klass->allow_autoconnect_on_external)
+        return TRUE;
+
     if (nm_device_autoconnect_blocked_get(self, NM_DEVICE_AUTOCONNECT_BLOCKED_ALL))
         return FALSE;
 
diff --git a/src/core/devices/nm-device.h b/src/core/devices/nm-device.h
index 382c866053..40f8d11a3c 100644
--- a/src/core/devices/nm-device.h
+++ b/src/core/devices/nm-device.h
@@ -208,6 +208,8 @@ typedef struct _NMDeviceClass {
 
     bool can_reapply_change_ovs_external_ids : 1;
 
+    bool allow_autoconnect_on_external : 1;
+
     NMRfkillType rfkill_type : 4;
 
     void (*state_changed)(NMDevice           *device,