diff --git a/src/nm-manager.c b/src/nm-manager.c
index 9177f3a30a..e97284e141 100644
--- a/src/nm-manager.c
+++ b/src/nm-manager.c
@@ -1985,6 +1985,7 @@ add_device (NMManager *self, NMDevice *device)
 		subject = nm_auth_subject_new_internal ();
 		active = _new_active_connection (self, connection, NULL, device, subject, &error);
 		if (active) {
+			nm_active_connection_export (active);
 			active_connection_add (self, active);
 			nm_device_activate (device, NM_ACT_REQUEST (active));
 		} else {