diff --git a/src/core/NetworkManagerUtils.c b/src/core/NetworkManagerUtils.c
index c4df566eab..2f30bcaa39 100644
--- a/src/core/NetworkManagerUtils.c
+++ b/src/core/NetworkManagerUtils.c
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
 
+G_STATIC_ASSERT(NM_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT_1500_MSEC <= NM_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT_MAX_MSEC);
+
+/*****************************************************************************/
+
 /**
  * nm_utils_get_shared_wifi_permission:
  * @connection: the NMConnection to lookup the permission.
diff --git a/src/core/NetworkManagerUtils.h b/src/core/NetworkManagerUtils.h
index 465f19b80f..fce940073b 100644
--- a/src/core/NetworkManagerUtils.h
+++ b/src/core/NetworkManagerUtils.h
@@ -121,6 +121,17 @@ NMPlatformRoutingRule *nm_ip_routing_rule_to_platform(const NMIPRoutingRule *rul
 #define NM_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT_MAX_MSEC        1500
 #define NM_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT_ADDITIONAL_MSEC 500
 
+/**
+ * NM_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT_1500_MSEC: this is just 1500 msec. The special
+ *   thing about the define is that you are guaranteed that this is not
+ *   longer than NM_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT_MAX_MSEC.
+ *   When you perform an async operation, it must either be cancellable
+ *   (and complete fast) or never take longer than NM_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT_MAX_MSEC.
+ *   The usage of this macro makes that relation to NM_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT_MAX_MSEC
+ *   explicit.
+ */
+#define NM_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT_1500_MSEC 1500
+
 typedef enum {
     /* There is no watched_obj argument, and the shutdown is delayed until the user
      * explicitly calls unregister on the returned handle. */