diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 5d71a690c2..112d76839b 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ Overview of changes since NetworkManager-1.54.3
 =============================================
 
 * Add support for GENEVE interface.
+* Allow persisting the managed state across reboots from nmcli and the D-Bus API.
+* Allow changing the device's administrative state in the kernel at the same
+  time as a change to the managed state from nmcli and the D-Bus API.
 
 ===============================================
 NetworkManager-1.54.3
diff --git a/introspection/org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.Device.xml b/introspection/org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.Device.xml
index 085d2a1f74..21b6711909 100644
--- a/introspection/org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.Device.xml
+++ b/introspection/org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.Device.xml
@@ -175,6 +175,9 @@
         property has a similar effect to configuring the device as unmanaged via
         the keyfile.unmanaged-devices setting in NetworkManager.conf. Changes to
         this value are not persistent and lost after NetworkManager restart.
+
+        DEPRECATED: 1.56, 1.54.4: Use the SetManaged method instead, which supports
+        additional features like persisting the state to disk
     -->
     <property name="Managed" type="b" access="readwrite"/>
 
@@ -391,6 +394,20 @@
     -->
     <method name="Delete"/>
 
+    <!--
+        SetManaged:
+        @managed:(<link linkend="NMDeviceManaged">NMDeviceManaged</link>) Whether the device is managed. Possible values are "no" (0), "yes" (1) and "reset" (2).
+        @flags: (<link linkend="NMDeviceManagedFlags">NMDeviceManagedFlags</link>) flags.
+        @since: 1.54.4
+
+        Set the managed state of the device. With the flags argument different
+        behaviors can be achieved, like storing the new managed state to disk.
+    -->
+    <method name="SetManaged">
+      <arg name="managed" type="u" direction="in"/>
+      <arg name="flags" type="u" direction="in"/>
+      </method>
+
     <!--
         StateChanged:
         @new_state: (<link linkend="NMDeviceState">NMDeviceState</link>) The new state of the device.
diff --git a/man/nmcli.xml b/man/nmcli.xml
index f3b6706ece..6ab3638597 100644
--- a/man/nmcli.xml
+++ b/man/nmcli.xml
@@ -1435,15 +1435,31 @@
           </arg>
           <arg>
             <option>managed</option>
+            <group>
+              <arg choice='plain'>--permanent</arg>
+              <arg choice='plain'>--permanent-only</arg>
+            </group>
             <group choice='req'>
               <arg choice='plain'>yes</arg>
               <arg choice='plain'>no</arg>
+              <arg choice='plain'>up</arg>
+              <arg choice='plain'>down</arg>
+              <arg choice='plain'>reset</arg>
             </group>
           </arg>
         </term>
 
         <listitem>
           <para>Set device properties.</para>
+
+          <para>The <option>managed</option> property accepts a <option>--permanent</option>
+          option to persist the managed state to disk, and not only in runtime. With
+          <option>--permanent-only</option> only the permanent managed state is set, and not the
+          runtime managed state. The special values <option>up</option> and <option>down</option>
+          can be used to set the administrative state of the device at the same time as the runtime
+          managed state. The <option>reset</option> value clears the explicit managed setting, and
+          with <option>--permanent</option> or <option>--permanent-only</option> it also removes
+          the persisted managed setting.</para>
         </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
 
diff --git a/po/POTFILES.in b/po/POTFILES.in
index 1cb0255415..04de8d3f5c 100644
--- a/po/POTFILES.in
+++ b/po/POTFILES.in
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ src/core/NetworkManagerUtils.c
 src/core/devices/adsl/nm-device-adsl.c
 src/core/devices/bluetooth/nm-bluez-manager.c
 src/core/devices/bluetooth/nm-device-bt.c
+src/core/devices/nm-device.c
 src/core/devices/nm-device-6lowpan.c
 src/core/devices/nm-device-bond.c
 src/core/devices/nm-device-bridge.c
diff --git a/src/core/devices/nm-device.c b/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
index 8168759f65..a103652abc 100644
--- a/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
+++ b/src/core/devices/nm-device.c
@@ -14816,6 +14816,241 @@ impl_device_get_applied_connection(NMDBusObject                      *obj,
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
 
+typedef struct {
+    NMDeviceManaged      managed_state;
+    NMDeviceManagedFlags managed_flags;
+} SetManagedData;
+
+static gboolean
+get_managed_match_by_mac(NMDevice *self, NMDeviceManagedFlags flags, gboolean *out, GError **error)
+{
+    gboolean is_fake_hwaddr;
+
+    nm_assert(out);
+
+    if ((flags & NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT_BY_MAC)
+        && (flags & NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT_BY_NAME)) {
+        g_set_error_literal(error,
+                            NM_DEVICE_ERROR,
+                            NM_DEVICE_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT,
+                            "cannot match both by 'mac' and by 'interface-name'");
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+
+    nm_device_get_permanent_hw_address_full(self, TRUE, &is_fake_hwaddr);
+
+    if ((flags & NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT_BY_MAC) && is_fake_hwaddr) {
+        g_set_error_literal(
+            error,
+            NM_DEVICE_ERROR,
+            NM_DEVICE_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT,
+            "cannot match by 'mac': the device doesn't have a permanent MAC address");
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+
+    if (flags & NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT_BY_MAC)
+        *out = TRUE;
+    else if (flags & NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT_BY_NAME)
+        *out = FALSE;
+    else
+        *out = !is_fake_hwaddr;
+
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
+/**
+ * set_managed:
+ * @self: the device
+ * @managed: the new managed state to set.
+ * @flags: flags to select different behaviors like storing to disk.
+ * @error: return location for a #GError, or %NULL
+ *
+ * Sets the managed state of the device. It can affect the runtime managed state
+ * if the %NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_RUNTIME is set, and to the value stored on disk
+ * (persistent across reboots) state if the %NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT is set.
+ *
+ * Returns: %TRUE if the managed state was set successfully, %FALSE otherwise.
+ */
+static gboolean
+set_managed(NMDevice *self, NMDeviceManaged managed, NMDeviceManagedFlags flags, GError **error)
+{
+    NMDevicePrivate *priv = NM_DEVICE_GET_PRIVATE(self);
+
+    nm_assert(
+        NM_IN_SET(managed, NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_NO, NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_YES, NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_RESET));
+    nm_assert((flags & ~NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_ALL) == 0);
+
+    if (!NM_FLAGS_ANY(flags, NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT | NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_RUNTIME)) {
+        g_set_error_literal(error,
+                            NM_DEVICE_ERROR,
+                            NM_DEVICE_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT,
+                            _("set managed: no permanent or runtime was selected"));
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+
+    if (flags & NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT) {
+        NMTernary managed_to_disk, old = NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT;
+        gboolean  by_mac;
+
+        managed_to_disk = managed == NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_RESET ? NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT : !!managed;
+        nm_config_get_device_managed(nm_manager_get_config(priv->manager), self, &old, NULL, error);
+        if (!get_managed_match_by_mac(self, flags, &by_mac, error))
+            return FALSE;
+
+        if (!nm_config_set_device_managed(nm_manager_get_config(priv->manager),
+                                          self,
+                                          managed_to_disk,
+                                          by_mac,
+                                          error))
+            return FALSE;
+
+        /* Update the unmanaged flags after the change on disk */
+        nm_device_set_unmanaged_by_user_conf(self);
+
+        if (managed_to_disk != NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT
+            && managed_to_disk != !nm_device_get_unmanaged_flags(self, NM_UNMANAGED_USER_CONF)) {
+            /* We failed to make the new state effective on disk. Maybe the new config
+             * collides with other config. Try to revert and return error. Otherwise,
+             * we would set the runtime state correctly, but get an unexpected state
+             * after a reboot. */
+            nm_config_set_device_managed(nm_manager_get_config(priv->manager),
+                                         self,
+                                         old,
+                                         by_mac,
+                                         NULL);
+            g_set_error(error,
+                        NM_DEVICE_ERROR,
+                        NM_DEVICE_ERROR_FAILED,
+                        _("failed to persist 'managed=%d' on disk, other configurations may be "
+                          "overriding it"),
+                        managed);
+            return FALSE;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (flags & NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_RUNTIME) {
+        if (managed == NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_RESET) {
+            nm_device_set_unmanaged_by_flags(self,
+                                             NM_UNMANAGED_USER_EXPLICIT,
+                                             NM_UNMAN_FLAG_OP_FORGET,
+                                             NM_DEVICE_STATE_REASON_UNMANAGED_USER_EXPLICIT);
+        } else {
+            g_object_set(self, NM_DEVICE_MANAGED, !!managed, NULL);
+
+            /* If requested, set the administrative state of the device to UP if the
+             * new managed state is YES, and to DOWN if it's NO. */
+            if (flags & NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_SET_ADMIN_STATE) {
+                if (nm_device_get_ifindex(self))
+                    nm_platform_link_change_flags(nm_device_get_platform(self),
+                                                  nm_device_get_ifindex(self),
+                                                  IFF_UP,
+                                                  !!managed);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
+static void
+set_managed_cb(NMDevice              *self,
+               GDBusMethodInvocation *context,
+               NMAuthSubject         *subject,
+               GError                *error,
+               gpointer               user_data)
+{
+    SetManagedData      *set_managed_data = user_data;
+    NMDeviceManaged      managed;
+    NMDeviceManagedFlags flags;
+    GError              *local = NULL;
+
+    managed = set_managed_data->managed_state;
+    flags   = set_managed_data->managed_flags;
+    nm_g_slice_free(set_managed_data);
+
+    if (!error) {
+        if (!NM_IN_SET(managed,
+                       NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_NO,
+                       NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_YES,
+                       NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_RESET))
+            g_set_error_literal(&error,
+                                NM_DEVICE_ERROR,
+                                NM_DEVICE_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT,
+                                "Invalid managed value");
+        else if ((flags & ~NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_ALL) != 0)
+            g_set_error_literal(&error,
+                                NM_DEVICE_ERROR,
+                                NM_DEVICE_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT,
+                                "Invalid flags");
+    }
+
+    if (error) {
+        nm_audit_log_device_op(NM_AUDIT_OP_DEVICE_MANAGED,
+                               self,
+                               FALSE,
+                               NULL,
+                               subject,
+                               error->message);
+        g_dbus_method_invocation_return_gerror(context, error);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (!set_managed(self, managed, flags, &local)) {
+        nm_audit_log_device_op(NM_AUDIT_OP_DEVICE_MANAGED,
+                               self,
+                               FALSE,
+                               NULL,
+                               subject,
+                               local->message);
+        g_dbus_method_invocation_take_error(context, g_steal_pointer(&local));
+        return;
+    }
+
+    nm_audit_log_device_op(NM_AUDIT_OP_DEVICE_MANAGED, self, TRUE, NULL, subject, NULL);
+    g_dbus_method_invocation_return_value(context, NULL);
+}
+
+static void
+impl_device_set_managed(NMDBusObject                      *obj,
+                        const NMDBusInterfaceInfoExtended *interface_info,
+                        const NMDBusMethodInfoExtended    *method_info,
+                        GDBusConnection                   *connection,
+                        const char                        *sender,
+                        GDBusMethodInvocation             *invocation,
+                        GVariant                          *parameters)
+{
+    NMDevice             *self  = NM_DEVICE(obj);
+    gs_free_error GError *error = NULL;
+    guint32               managed_u;
+    NMDeviceManaged       managed;
+    guint32               flags_u;
+    NMDeviceManagedFlags  flags;
+    SetManagedData       *set_managed_data;
+
+    g_variant_get(parameters, "(uu)", &managed_u, &flags_u);
+
+    managed = managed_u;
+    flags   = flags_u;
+    nm_assert(managed == managed_u && flags == flags_u);
+
+    set_managed_data  = g_slice_new(SetManagedData);
+    *set_managed_data = (SetManagedData) {
+        .managed_state = managed,
+        .managed_flags = flags,
+    };
+
+    nm_device_auth_request(self,
+                           invocation,
+                           nm_device_get_applied_connection(self),
+                           NM_AUTH_PERMISSION_NETWORK_CONTROL,
+                           TRUE,
+                           NULL,
+                           set_managed_cb,
+                           set_managed_data);
+}
+
+/*****************************************************************************/
+
 static void
 disconnect_cb(NMDevice              *self,
               GDBusMethodInvocation *context,
@@ -19829,6 +20064,12 @@ static const NMDBusInterfaceInfoExtended interface_info_device = {
                         NM_DEFINE_GDBUS_ARG_INFO("connection", "a{sa{sv}}"),
                         NM_DEFINE_GDBUS_ARG_INFO("version_id", "t"), ), ),
                 .handle = impl_device_get_applied_connection, ),
+            NM_DEFINE_DBUS_METHOD_INFO_EXTENDED(
+                NM_DEFINE_GDBUS_METHOD_INFO_INIT("SetManaged",
+                                                 .in_args = NM_DEFINE_GDBUS_ARG_INFOS(
+                                                     NM_DEFINE_GDBUS_ARG_INFO("managed", "u"),
+                                                     NM_DEFINE_GDBUS_ARG_INFO("flags", "u"), ), ),
+                .handle = impl_device_set_managed, ),
             NM_DEFINE_DBUS_METHOD_INFO_EXTENDED(NM_DEFINE_GDBUS_METHOD_INFO_INIT("Disconnect", ),
                                                 .handle = impl_device_disconnect, ),
             NM_DEFINE_DBUS_METHOD_INFO_EXTENDED(NM_DEFINE_GDBUS_METHOD_INFO_INIT("Delete", ),
diff --git a/src/core/nm-checkpoint.c b/src/core/nm-checkpoint.c
index ffcf6e3aad..ea52b4f8c4 100644
--- a/src/core/nm-checkpoint.c
+++ b/src/core/nm-checkpoint.c
@@ -39,7 +39,9 @@ typedef struct {
     bool               activation_lifetime_bound_to_profile_visibility : 1;
     bool               settings_connection_is_unsaved : 1;
     bool               settings_connection_is_shadowed_owned : 1;
+    bool               permanent_managed_by_mac : 1;
     NMUnmanFlagOp      unmanaged_explicit;
+    NMTernary          permanent_managed;
     NMActivationReason activation_reason;
     gulong             dev_exported_change_id;
 } DeviceCheckpoint;
@@ -496,14 +498,19 @@ nm_checkpoint_rollback(NMCheckpoint *self)
     /* Start rolling-back each device */
     g_hash_table_iter_init(&iter, priv->devices);
     while (g_hash_table_iter_next(&iter, (gpointer *) &device, (gpointer *) &dev_checkpoint)) {
-        guint32 result = NM_ROLLBACK_RESULT_OK;
+        guint32   result              = NM_ROLLBACK_RESULT_OK;
+        NMTernary perm_managed        = NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT;
+        gboolean  perm_managed_by_mac = FALSE;
+        gboolean  force_perm_managed;
 
         _LOGD("rollback: restoring device %s (state %d, realized %d, explicitly unmanaged %d, "
-              "connection-unsaved %d, connection-shadowed %d, connection-shadowed-owned %d)",
+              "permanently managed %d, connection-unsaved %d, connection-shadowed %d, "
+              "connection-shadowed-owned %d)",
               dev_checkpoint->original_dev_name,
               (int) dev_checkpoint->state,
               dev_checkpoint->realized,
               dev_checkpoint->unmanaged_explicit,
+              dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed,
               dev_checkpoint->settings_connection_is_unsaved,
               !!dev_checkpoint->settings_connection_shadowed,
               dev_checkpoint->settings_connection_is_shadowed_owned);
@@ -541,6 +548,43 @@ nm_checkpoint_rollback(NMCheckpoint *self)
                                                    NM_DEVICE_STATE_REASON_NOW_MANAGED);
         }
 
+        force_perm_managed = !nm_config_get_device_managed(nm_config_get(),
+                                                           device,
+                                                           &perm_managed,
+                                                           &perm_managed_by_mac,
+                                                           NULL);
+
+        if (force_perm_managed || (perm_managed != dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed)
+            || (dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed != NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT
+                && perm_managed_by_mac != dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed_by_mac)) {
+            gs_free_error GError *error = NULL;
+            NMUnmanFlagOp         set_op;
+
+            _LOGD("rollback: restore permanent managed state");
+
+            if (!nm_config_set_device_managed(nm_config_get(),
+                                              device,
+                                              dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed,
+                                              dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed_by_mac,
+                                              &error)) {
+                _LOGE("rollback: failed to restore permanent managed state: %s", error->message);
+                result = NM_ROLLBACK_RESULT_ERR_FAILED;
+                /* even if this failed, we try to continue the rollback */
+            }
+
+            if (dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed == NM_TERNARY_TRUE)
+                set_op = NM_UNMAN_FLAG_OP_SET_MANAGED;
+            else if (dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed == NM_TERNARY_FALSE)
+                set_op = NM_UNMAN_FLAG_OP_SET_UNMANAGED;
+            else
+                set_op = NM_UNMAN_FLAG_OP_FORGET;
+
+            nm_device_set_unmanaged_by_flags_queue(device,
+                                                   NM_UNMANAGED_USER_CONF,
+                                                   set_op,
+                                                   NM_DEVICE_STATE_REASON_NOW_MANAGED);
+        }
+
         if (dev_checkpoint->state == NM_DEVICE_STATE_UNMANAGED) {
             if (nm_device_get_state(device) != NM_DEVICE_STATE_UNMANAGED
                 || dev_checkpoint->unmanaged_explicit == NM_UNMAN_FLAG_OP_SET_UNMANAGED) {
@@ -703,6 +747,8 @@ device_checkpoint_create(NMCheckpoint *self, NMDevice *device)
     NMSettingsConnection *settings_connection;
     const char           *path;
     NMActRequest         *act_request;
+    gboolean              perm_managed_by_mac;
+    gs_free_error GError *error = NULL;
 
     nm_assert(NM_IS_DEVICE(device));
     nm_assert(nm_device_is_real(device));
@@ -728,12 +774,26 @@ device_checkpoint_create(NMCheckpoint *self, NMDevice *device)
     } else
         dev_checkpoint->unmanaged_explicit = NM_UNMAN_FLAG_OP_FORGET;
 
+    if (nm_config_get_device_managed(nm_config_get(),
+                                     device,
+                                     &dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed,
+                                     &perm_managed_by_mac,
+                                     NULL)) {
+        dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed_by_mac = perm_managed_by_mac;
+    } else {
+        dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed        = NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT;
+        dev_checkpoint->permanent_managed_by_mac = FALSE;
+        _LOGW("error getting permanent managed state for %s: %s",
+              nm_device_get_iface(device),
+              error->message);
+        g_clear_error(&error);
+    }
+
     act_request = nm_device_get_act_request(device);
     if (act_request) {
-        NMSettingsStorage    *storage;
-        gboolean              shadowed_owned = FALSE;
-        const char           *shadowed_file;
-        gs_free_error GError *error = NULL;
+        NMSettingsStorage *storage;
+        gboolean           shadowed_owned = FALSE;
+        const char        *shadowed_file;
 
         settings_connection = nm_act_request_get_settings_connection(act_request);
         applied_connection  = nm_act_request_get_applied_connection(act_request);
@@ -764,6 +824,7 @@ device_checkpoint_create(NMCheckpoint *self, NMDevice *device)
                 _LOGW("error reading shadowed connection file for %s: %s",
                       nm_device_get_iface(device),
                       error->message);
+                g_clear_error(&error);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/core/nm-config-data.c b/src/core/nm-config-data.c
index 461fd8eda2..dd0822adf4 100644
--- a/src/core/nm-config-data.c
+++ b/src/core/nm-config-data.c
@@ -2058,12 +2058,15 @@ _match_section_infos_construct(GKeyFile *keyfile, gboolean is_device)
 {
     char            **groups;
     gsize             i, j, ngroups;
-    char             *connection_tag      = NULL;
+    char             *main_group          = NULL;
     MatchSectionInfo *match_section_infos = NULL;
-    const char       *prefix;
+    const char       *prefix, *prefix_intern;
 
     prefix =
         is_device ? NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_DEVICE : NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_CONNECTION;
+    prefix_intern =
+        is_device ? NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_DEVICE
+                  : NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_CONNECTION;
 
     /* get the list of existing [connection.\+]/[device.\+] sections.
      *
@@ -2074,27 +2077,36 @@ _match_section_infos_construct(GKeyFile *keyfile, gboolean is_device)
     if (!groups)
         return NULL;
 
-    if (ngroups > 0) {
-        gsize l = strlen(prefix);
-
-        for (i = 0, j = 0; i < ngroups; i++) {
-            if (g_str_has_prefix(groups[i], prefix)) {
-                if (groups[i][l] == '\0')
-                    connection_tag = groups[i];
-                else
-                    groups[j++] = groups[i];
-            } else
-                g_free(groups[i]);
+    for (i = 0, j = 0; i < ngroups; i++) {
+        if (nm_streq0(groups[i], prefix)) {
+            main_group = groups[i];
+        } else if (nm_streq0(groups[i], prefix_intern)) {
+            /* [.intern.connection] and [.intern.device] should not exist */
+            _nm_log(LOGL_WARN,
+                    LOGD_CORE,
+                    0,
+                    NULL,
+                    NULL,
+                    "Invalid [.intern.*] section 'connection' or 'device' found");
+            g_free(groups[i]);
+            continue;
+        } else if (g_str_has_prefix(groups[i], prefix)) {
+            groups[j++] = groups[i];
+        } else if (g_str_has_prefix(groups[i], prefix_intern)) {
+            /* [.intern.connection-whatever] and [.intern.device-whatever] can exist */
+            groups[j++] = groups[i];
+        } else {
+            g_free(groups[i]);
         }
-        ngroups = j;
     }
+    ngroups = j;
 
-    if (ngroups == 0 && !connection_tag) {
+    if (ngroups == 0 && !main_group) {
         g_free(groups);
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    match_section_infos = g_new0(MatchSectionInfo, ngroups + 1 + (connection_tag ? 1 : 0));
+    match_section_infos            = g_new0(MatchSectionInfo, ngroups + 1 + (main_group ? 1 : 0));
     match_section_infos->is_device = is_device;
     for (i = 0; i < ngroups; i++) {
         /* pass ownership of @group on... */
@@ -2103,9 +2115,9 @@ _match_section_infos_construct(GKeyFile *keyfile, gboolean is_device)
                                  groups[ngroups - i - 1],
                                  is_device);
     }
-    if (connection_tag) {
-        /* pass ownership of @connection_tag on... */
-        _match_section_info_init(&match_section_infos[i], keyfile, connection_tag, is_device);
+    if (main_group) {
+        /* pass ownership of @main_group on... */
+        _match_section_info_init(&match_section_infos[i], keyfile, main_group, is_device);
     }
     g_free(groups);
 
diff --git a/src/core/nm-config.c b/src/core/nm-config.c
index d1f2bbed35..d8bf2e3ed7 100644
--- a/src/core/nm-config.c
+++ b/src/core/nm-config.c
@@ -2075,6 +2075,210 @@ nm_config_set_connectivity_check_enabled(NMConfig *self, gboolean enabled)
     g_key_file_unref(keyfile);
 }
 
+/*****************************************************************************/
+
+static gboolean
+normalize_hwaddr_for_group_name(const char *hwaddr, char *out, GError **error)
+{
+    guint8 hwaddr_bin[NM_UTILS_HWADDR_LEN_MAX];
+    gsize  hwaddr_bin_len;
+
+    if (!_nm_utils_hwaddr_aton(hwaddr, hwaddr_bin, sizeof(hwaddr_bin), &hwaddr_bin_len)) {
+        g_set_error(error,
+                    NM_DEVICE_ERROR,
+                    NM_DEVICE_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT,
+                    "Invalid MAC address: %s",
+                    hwaddr);
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+    nm_utils_bin2hexstr_full(hwaddr_bin, hwaddr_bin_len, '-', TRUE, out);
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
+/**
+ * nm_config_get_device_managed:
+ * @self: the NMConfig instance
+ * @device: the interface
+ * @out: (out): the managed state of the device
+ * @error: return location for a #GError, or %NULL
+ *
+ * Returns: TRUE if there were no errors, FALSE otherwise.
+ */
+gboolean
+nm_config_get_device_managed(NMConfig  *self,
+                             NMDevice  *device,
+                             NMTernary *out_managed,
+                             gboolean  *out_by_mac,
+                             GError   **error)
+{
+    NMConfigPrivate *priv;
+    const GKeyFile  *keyfile       = NULL;
+    gs_free char    *group_by_name = NULL;
+    gs_free char    *group_by_mac  = NULL;
+    const char      *ifname        = nm_device_get_iface(device);
+    const char      *hwaddr        = nm_device_get_permanent_hw_address(device);
+    char             mac_group_name[NM_UTILS_HWADDR_LEN_MAX * 3 + 1];
+    NMTernary        val_by_name, val_by_mac = NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT;
+
+    g_return_val_if_fail(NM_IS_CONFIG(self), FALSE);
+    g_return_val_if_fail(NM_CONFIG_GET_PRIVATE(self)->config_data, FALSE);
+    g_return_val_if_fail(out_managed, FALSE);
+    g_return_val_if_fail(ifname, FALSE);
+
+    priv    = NM_CONFIG_GET_PRIVATE(self);
+    keyfile = _nm_config_data_get_keyfile_intern(priv->config_data);
+
+    if (!keyfile) {
+        NM_SET_OUT(out_managed, NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT);
+        NM_SET_OUT(out_by_mac, FALSE);
+        return TRUE;
+    }
+
+    group_by_name =
+        g_strdup_printf(NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN_DEVICE "-manage-%s", ifname);
+
+    val_by_name = (NMTernary) nm_config_keyfile_get_boolean(keyfile,
+                                                            group_by_name,
+                                                            NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_KEY_DEVICE_MANAGED,
+                                                            NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT);
+
+    /* Devices without a kernel link (i.e. OVS ports) don't have a MAC address */
+    if (hwaddr) {
+        if (!normalize_hwaddr_for_group_name(hwaddr, mac_group_name, error))
+            return FALSE;
+
+        group_by_mac = g_strdup_printf(NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN_DEVICE "-manage-%s",
+                                       mac_group_name);
+
+        val_by_mac = (NMTernary) nm_config_keyfile_get_boolean(keyfile,
+                                                               group_by_mac,
+                                                               NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_KEY_DEVICE_MANAGED,
+                                                               NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT);
+    }
+
+    if (val_by_name != NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT && val_by_mac == NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT) {
+        NM_SET_OUT(out_managed, val_by_name);
+        NM_SET_OUT(out_by_mac, FALSE);
+        return TRUE;
+    } else if (val_by_mac != NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT && val_by_name == NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT) {
+        NM_SET_OUT(out_managed, val_by_mac);
+        NM_SET_OUT(out_by_mac, TRUE);
+        return TRUE;
+    } else if (val_by_name == NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT && val_by_mac == NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT) {
+        NM_SET_OUT(out_managed, NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT);
+        NM_SET_OUT(out_by_mac, FALSE);
+        return TRUE;
+    } else if (val_by_name == val_by_mac) {
+        NM_SET_OUT(out_managed, val_by_name);
+        NM_SET_OUT(out_by_mac, FALSE);
+        return TRUE;
+    }
+
+    g_set_error(error,
+                NM_DEVICE_ERROR,
+                NM_DEVICE_ERROR_FAILED,
+                "Multiple managed states found for device: %s",
+                nm_device_get_iface(device));
+    return FALSE;
+}
+
+/**
+ * nm_config_set_device_managed:
+ * @self: the NMConfig instance
+ * @device: the NMDevice instance associated with this config change
+ * @managed: the managed state to set
+ * @by_mac: if %TRUE, match by MAC address, otherwise by interface name. This is
+ *   only used when @managed = TRUE.
+ * @error: return location for a #GError, or %NULL
+ *
+ * Sets the managed state of the device to the intern keyfile. Here we store the
+ * configuration received via the D-Bus API. Configurations from other config
+ * files are still in place and may have higher precedence.
+ *
+ * Prior to setting the new state, the existing configuration is removed. If
+ * @managed is set to %NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT, we only do the removal of the previous
+ * configuration.
+ */
+gboolean
+nm_config_set_device_managed(NMConfig *self,
+                             NMDevice *device,
+                             NMTernary managed,
+                             gboolean  by_mac,
+                             GError  **error)
+{
+    NMConfigPrivate *priv;
+    g_autoptr(GKeyFile) keyfile = NULL;
+    char         *group;
+    gs_free char *group_by_name = NULL;
+    gs_free char *group_by_mac  = NULL;
+    gs_free char *match_value   = NULL;
+    gboolean      changed       = FALSE;
+    const char   *ifname        = nm_device_get_iface(device);
+    const char   *hwaddr        = nm_device_get_permanent_hw_address(device);
+    char          mac_group_name[NM_UTILS_HWADDR_LEN_MAX * 3 + 1];
+
+    g_return_val_if_fail(NM_IS_CONFIG(self), FALSE);
+    g_return_val_if_fail(NM_CONFIG_GET_PRIVATE(self)->config_data, FALSE);
+    g_return_val_if_fail(ifname, FALSE);
+
+    if (by_mac && !hwaddr) {
+        g_set_error(error,
+                    NM_DEVICE_ERROR,
+                    NM_DEVICE_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT,
+                    "the device has no MAC address, but match by MAC was requested");
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+
+    if (hwaddr && !normalize_hwaddr_for_group_name(hwaddr, mac_group_name, error))
+        return FALSE;
+
+    priv    = NM_CONFIG_GET_PRIVATE(self);
+    keyfile = nm_config_data_clone_keyfile_intern(priv->config_data);
+
+    /* Remove existing configs. Search them by group name [.intern.device-manage-*]. In
+     * the intern file, 'device-manage' sections are only used for this purpose, so we
+     * won't remove any other device's config. */
+    group_by_name =
+        g_strdup_printf(NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN_DEVICE "-manage-%s", ifname);
+
+    if (g_key_file_remove_group(keyfile, group_by_name, NULL))
+        changed = TRUE;
+
+    /* Devices without a kernel link (i.e. OVS ports) don't have a MAC address */
+    if (hwaddr) {
+        group_by_mac = g_strdup_printf(NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN_DEVICE "-manage-%s",
+                                       mac_group_name);
+
+        if (g_key_file_remove_group(keyfile, group_by_mac, NULL))
+            changed = TRUE;
+    }
+
+    /* If the new state is not explicitly TRUE of FALSE, we only remove the configs */
+    if (managed == NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT)
+        goto done;
+
+    /* Set new values */
+    if (by_mac) {
+        group       = group_by_mac;
+        match_value = g_strdup_printf("mac:%s", hwaddr);
+    } else {
+        group       = group_by_name;
+        match_value = g_strdup_printf("interface-name:=%s", ifname);
+    }
+
+    g_key_file_set_value(keyfile, group, NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_KEY_MATCH_DEVICE, match_value);
+    g_key_file_set_value(keyfile, group, NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_KEY_DEVICE_MANAGED, managed ? "1" : "0");
+    changed = TRUE;
+
+done:
+    if (changed)
+        nm_config_set_values(self, keyfile, TRUE, FALSE);
+
+    return TRUE;
+}
+
+/*****************************************************************************/
+
 /**
  * nm_config_set_values:
  * @self: the NMConfig instance
diff --git a/src/core/nm-config.h b/src/core/nm-config.h
index 5518184ce3..0cfbdfe40e 100644
--- a/src/core/nm-config.h
+++ b/src/core/nm-config.h
@@ -142,6 +142,17 @@ gboolean nm_config_set_global_dns(NMConfig *self, NMGlobalDnsConfig *global_dns,
 
 void nm_config_set_connectivity_check_enabled(NMConfig *self, gboolean enabled);
 
+gboolean nm_config_get_device_managed(NMConfig  *self,
+                                      NMDevice  *device,
+                                      NMTernary *out_managed,
+                                      gboolean  *out_by_mac,
+                                      GError   **error);
+gboolean nm_config_set_device_managed(NMConfig *self,
+                                      NMDevice *device,
+                                      NMTernary managed,
+                                      gboolean  by_mac,
+                                      GError  **error);
+
 /* internal defines ... */
 extern guint _nm_config_match_nm_version;
 extern char *_nm_config_match_env;
diff --git a/src/core/tests/config/test-config.c b/src/core/tests/config/test-config.c
index 78fd10571d..b2f29821e8 100644
--- a/src/core/tests/config/test-config.c
+++ b/src/core/tests/config/test-config.c
@@ -311,6 +311,108 @@ test_config_override(void)
     g_assert_cmpstr(plugins[3], ==, "delta");
 }
 
+static void
+test_config_managed(void)
+{
+    NMConfig     *config;
+    const char   *CONFIG_USER   = BUILD_DIR "/test-config-managed.conf";
+    const char   *CONFIG_INTERN = BUILD_DIR "/test-config-managed-intern.conf";
+    NMDevice     *dev;
+    gs_free char *group_by_name = NULL;
+    const char   *ifname, *group_by_mac;
+    NMTernary     managed;
+    gboolean      by_mac;
+    GKeyFile     *kf = nm_config_create_keyfile();
+
+    dev    = nm_test_device_new("11:11:11:11:11:11");
+    ifname = nm_device_get_iface(dev);
+    group_by_name =
+        g_strdup_printf(NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN_DEVICE "-manage-%s", ifname);
+    group_by_mac = NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN_DEVICE "-manage-11-11-11-11-11-11";
+
+    g_assert(g_file_set_contents(CONFIG_USER, "", 0, NULL));
+    g_assert(g_file_set_contents(CONFIG_INTERN, "", 0, NULL));
+
+    config = setup_config(NULL, CONFIG_USER, CONFIG_INTERN, NULL, "/no/such/dir", "", NULL);
+
+    g_assert(nm_config_get_device_managed(config, dev, &managed, NULL, NULL));
+    g_assert_cmpint(managed, ==, NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT);
+
+    /* Matching by name */
+    NMTST_EXPECT_NM_INFO("config: signal: *");
+    g_assert(nm_config_set_device_managed(config, dev, NM_TERNARY_TRUE, FALSE, NULL));
+    g_assert(nm_config_get_device_managed(config, dev, &managed, &by_mac, NULL));
+    g_assert_cmpint(managed, ==, NM_TERNARY_TRUE);
+    g_assert_false(by_mac);
+    g_key_file_load_from_file(kf, CONFIG_INTERN, G_KEY_FILE_NONE, NULL);
+    g_assert_false(g_key_file_has_key(kf, group_by_mac, "managed", NULL));
+    g_assert_true(g_key_file_has_key(kf, group_by_name, "managed", NULL));
+    g_assert_cmpint(g_key_file_get_integer(kf, group_by_name, "managed", NULL), ==, 1);
+
+    NMTST_EXPECT_NM_INFO("config: signal: *");
+    g_assert(nm_config_set_device_managed(config, dev, NM_TERNARY_FALSE, FALSE, NULL));
+    g_assert(nm_config_get_device_managed(config, dev, &managed, &by_mac, NULL));
+    g_assert_cmpint(managed, ==, NM_TERNARY_FALSE);
+    g_assert_false(by_mac);
+    g_key_file_load_from_file(kf, CONFIG_INTERN, G_KEY_FILE_NONE, NULL);
+    g_assert_false(g_key_file_has_key(kf, group_by_mac, "managed", NULL));
+    g_assert_true(g_key_file_has_key(kf, group_by_name, "managed", NULL));
+    g_assert_cmpint(g_key_file_get_integer(kf, group_by_name, "managed", NULL), ==, 0);
+
+    /* Matching by MAC address */
+    NMTST_EXPECT_NM_INFO("config: signal: *");
+    g_assert(nm_config_set_device_managed(config, dev, NM_TERNARY_TRUE, TRUE, NULL));
+    g_assert(nm_config_get_device_managed(config, dev, &managed, &by_mac, NULL));
+    g_assert_cmpint(managed, ==, NM_TERNARY_TRUE);
+    g_assert_true(by_mac);
+    g_key_file_load_from_file(kf, CONFIG_INTERN, G_KEY_FILE_NONE, NULL);
+    g_assert_false(g_key_file_has_key(kf, group_by_name, "managed", NULL));
+    g_assert_true(g_key_file_has_key(kf, group_by_mac, "managed", NULL));
+    g_assert_cmpint(g_key_file_get_integer(kf, group_by_mac, "managed", NULL), ==, 1);
+
+    NMTST_EXPECT_NM_INFO("config: signal: *");
+    g_assert(nm_config_set_device_managed(config, dev, NM_TERNARY_FALSE, TRUE, NULL));
+    g_assert(nm_config_get_device_managed(config, dev, &managed, &by_mac, NULL));
+    g_assert_cmpint(managed, ==, NM_TERNARY_FALSE);
+    g_assert_true(by_mac);
+    g_key_file_load_from_file(kf, CONFIG_INTERN, G_KEY_FILE_NONE, NULL);
+    g_assert_false(g_key_file_has_key(kf, group_by_name, "managed", NULL));
+    g_assert_true(g_key_file_has_key(kf, group_by_mac, "managed", NULL));
+    g_assert_cmpint(g_key_file_get_integer(kf, group_by_mac, "managed", NULL), ==, 0);
+
+    /* Resetting the managed state */
+    NMTST_EXPECT_NM_INFO("config: signal: *");
+    g_assert(nm_config_set_device_managed(config, dev, NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT, FALSE, NULL));
+    g_assert(nm_config_get_device_managed(config, dev, &managed, NULL, NULL));
+    g_assert_cmpint(managed, ==, NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT);
+    g_key_file_load_from_file(kf, CONFIG_INTERN, G_KEY_FILE_NONE, NULL);
+    g_assert_false(g_key_file_has_key(kf, group_by_name, "managed", NULL));
+    g_assert_false(g_key_file_has_key(kf, group_by_mac, "managed", NULL));
+
+    g_object_unref(config);
+
+    /* Both values set in the intern config file, different values */
+    g_key_file_set_string(kf, group_by_name, "managed", "1");
+    g_key_file_set_string(kf, group_by_mac, "managed", "0");
+    g_assert(g_key_file_save_to_file(kf, CONFIG_INTERN, NULL));
+    config = setup_config(NULL, CONFIG_USER, CONFIG_INTERN, NULL, "/no/such/dir", "", NULL);
+    g_assert(!nm_config_get_device_managed(config, dev, &managed, NULL, NULL));
+
+    g_object_unref(config);
+
+    /* Both values set in the intern config file, same values */
+    g_key_file_set_string(kf, group_by_name, "managed", "1");
+    g_key_file_set_string(kf, group_by_mac, "managed", "1");
+    g_assert(g_key_file_save_to_file(kf, CONFIG_INTERN, NULL));
+    config = setup_config(NULL, CONFIG_USER, CONFIG_INTERN, NULL, "/no/such/dir", "", NULL);
+    g_assert(nm_config_get_device_managed(config, dev, &managed, NULL, NULL));
+    g_assert_cmpint(managed, ==, NM_TERNARY_TRUE);
+
+    g_key_file_unref(kf);
+    g_object_unref(dev);
+    g_object_unref(config);
+}
+
 static void
 test_config_global_dns(void)
 {
@@ -1412,6 +1514,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     g_test_add_func("/config/set-values", test_config_set_values);
     g_test_add_func("/config/global-dns", test_config_global_dns);
+    g_test_add_func("/config/managed", test_config_managed);
     g_test_add_func("/config/connectivity-check", test_config_connectivity_check);
 
     g_test_add_func("/config/signal", test_config_signal);
diff --git a/src/libnm-base/nm-config-base.h b/src/libnm-base/nm-config-base.h
index d101c95c84..e11d8abfa3 100644
--- a/src/libnm-base/nm-config-base.h
+++ b/src/libnm-base/nm-config-base.h
@@ -89,4 +89,7 @@
 #define NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN_GLOBAL_DNS_DOMAIN \
     NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_GLOBAL_DNS_DOMAIN
 
+#define NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN_DEVICE \
+    NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_INTERN NM_CONFIG_KEYFILE_GROUPPREFIX_DEVICE
+
 #endif /* __NM_CONFIG_BASE_H__ */
diff --git a/src/libnm-client-impl/libnm.ver b/src/libnm-client-impl/libnm.ver
index 31c43af89c..4edf71b153 100644
--- a/src/libnm-client-impl/libnm.ver
+++ b/src/libnm-client-impl/libnm.ver
@@ -2105,6 +2105,10 @@ global:
 	nm_device_geneve_get_tos;
 	nm_device_geneve_get_ttl;
 	nm_device_geneve_get_type;
+	nm_device_managed_flags_get_type;
+	nm_device_managed_get_type;
+	nm_device_set_managed_async;
+	nm_device_set_managed_finish;
 	nm_setting_geneve_df_get_type;
 	nm_setting_geneve_get_destination_port;
 	nm_setting_geneve_get_df;
diff --git a/src/libnm-client-impl/nm-device.c b/src/libnm-client-impl/nm-device.c
index 9203fd6f13..46440286f9 100644
--- a/src/libnm-client-impl/nm-device.c
+++ b/src/libnm-client-impl/nm-device.c
@@ -1446,9 +1446,7 @@ nm_device_get_managed(NMDevice *device)
  *
  * Since: 1.2
  *
- * Deprecated: 1.22: Use the async command nm_client_dbus_set_property() on
- * nm_object_get_path(), interface %NM_DBUS_INTERFACE_DEVICE to set the
- * "Managed" property to a "(b)" boolean value.
+ * Deprecated: 1.22: Use nm_device_set_managed_async() instead.
  * This function is deprecated because it calls a synchronous D-Bus method
  * and modifies the content of the NMClient cache client side. Also, it does
  * not emit a property changed signal.
@@ -1470,6 +1468,72 @@ nm_device_set_managed(NMDevice *device, gboolean managed)
                                         managed);
 }
 
+/**
+ * nm_device_set_managed_async:
+ * @device: a #NMDevice
+ * @managed: the managed state
+ * @flags: the flags argument. See #NMDeviceManagedFlags.
+ * @cancellable: a #GCancellable, or %NULL
+ * @callback: callback to be called when the set_managed operation completes
+ * @user_data: caller-specific data passed to @callback
+ *
+ * Asynchronously begins setting the managed state of the device. With the flags
+ * argument different behaviors can be achieved, such as persisting the state to
+ * disk or matching the device by MAC address.
+ *
+ * Since: 1.56, 1.54.4
+ **/
+void
+nm_device_set_managed_async(NMDevice            *device,
+                            NMDeviceManaged      managed,
+                            NMDeviceManagedFlags flags,
+                            GCancellable        *cancellable,
+                            GAsyncReadyCallback  callback,
+                            gpointer             user_data)
+{
+    g_return_if_fail(NM_IS_DEVICE(device));
+    g_return_if_fail(!cancellable || G_IS_CANCELLABLE(cancellable));
+
+    _nm_client_dbus_call(_nm_object_get_client(device),
+                         device,
+                         nm_device_set_managed_async,
+                         cancellable,
+                         callback,
+                         user_data,
+                         _nm_object_get_path(device),
+                         NM_DBUS_INTERFACE_DEVICE,
+                         "SetManaged",
+                         g_variant_new("(uu)", managed, flags),
+                         G_VARIANT_TYPE("()"),
+                         G_DBUS_CALL_FLAGS_NONE,
+                         NM_DBUS_DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MSEC,
+                         nm_dbus_connection_call_finish_void_strip_dbus_error_cb);
+}
+
+/**
+ * nm_device_set_managed_finish:
+ * @device: a #NMDevice
+ * @result: the result passed to the #GAsyncReadyCallback
+ * @error: location for a #GError, or %NULL
+ *
+ * Gets the result of a call to nm_device_set_managed_async().
+ *
+ * Returns: %TRUE on success, %FALSE on error, in which case @error
+ * will be set.
+ *
+ * Since: 1.56, 1.54.4
+ **/
+gboolean
+nm_device_set_managed_finish(NMDevice *device, GAsyncResult *result, GError **error)
+{
+    g_return_val_if_fail(NM_IS_DEVICE(device), FALSE);
+    g_return_val_if_fail(nm_g_task_is_valid(result, device, nm_device_set_managed_async), FALSE);
+
+    return g_task_propagate_boolean(G_TASK(result), error);
+}
+
+/*****************************************************************************/
+
 /**
  * nm_device_get_autoconnect:
  * @device: a #NMDevice
diff --git a/src/libnm-client-public/nm-device.h b/src/libnm-client-public/nm-device.h
index f58d3ddba8..c7c2a6e38e 100644
--- a/src/libnm-client-public/nm-device.h
+++ b/src/libnm-client-public/nm-device.h
@@ -150,6 +150,15 @@ NM_AVAILABLE_IN_1_2
 NM_DEPRECATED_IN_1_22
 _NM_DEPRECATED_SYNC_METHOD
 void nm_device_set_managed(NMDevice *device, gboolean managed);
+NM_AVAILABLE_IN_1_54_4
+void nm_device_set_managed_async(NMDevice            *device,
+                                 NMDeviceManaged      managed,
+                                 NMDeviceManagedFlags flags,
+                                 GCancellable        *cancellable,
+                                 GAsyncReadyCallback  callback,
+                                 gpointer             user_data);
+NM_AVAILABLE_IN_1_54_4
+gboolean nm_device_set_managed_finish(NMDevice *device, GAsyncResult *result, GError **error);
 
 gboolean nm_device_get_autoconnect(NMDevice *device);
 
diff --git a/src/libnm-core-public/nm-dbus-interface.h b/src/libnm-core-public/nm-dbus-interface.h
index 3f75d1ee39..51ec413aab 100644
--- a/src/libnm-core-public/nm-dbus-interface.h
+++ b/src/libnm-core-public/nm-dbus-interface.h
@@ -1245,6 +1245,54 @@ typedef enum /*< flags >*/ {
     NM_DEVICE_REAPPLY_FLAGS_PRESERVE_EXTERNAL_IP = 0x1,
 } NMDeviceReapplyFlags;
 
+/**
+ * NMDeviceManaged:
+ * @NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_NO: the device is not managed.
+ * @NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_YES: the device is managed.
+ * @NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_RESET: reset the device managed state to the default value.
+ *
+ * Values for the SetManaged() D-Bus call of a device and nm_device_set_managed_async().
+ *
+ * Since: 1.56, 1.54.4
+ */
+typedef enum {
+    NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_NO    = 0,
+    NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_YES   = 1,
+    NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_RESET = 2,
+} NMDeviceManaged;
+
+/**
+ * NMDeviceManagedFlags:
+ * @NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_NONE: no flag set.
+ * @NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_RUNTIME: to set the device managed state to the runtime value.
+ * @NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT: to set the device managed state to the permanent (on disk) value.
+ * @NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT_BY_NAME: to match the device by name, not by MAC address.
+ * @NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT_BY_MAC: to match the device by MAC address, not by name.
+ * @NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_SET_ADMIN_STATE: to set the administrative state of the
+ *   device to up if the managed state is %NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_YES, and down if the managed state
+ *   is %NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_NO. If the flag is not set, the administrative state is not changed.
+ *   The flag is ignored for %NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_RESET.
+ * @NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_ALL: all flags.
+ *
+ * Flags for the SetManaged() D-Bus call of a device and nm_device_set_managed_async().
+ *
+ * %NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT_BY_NAME and %NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT_BY_MAC
+ * are mutually exclusive, and they only make sense together with %NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT.
+ * If none is set, the matching criteria is selected automatically.
+ *
+ * Since: 1.56, 1.54.4
+ */
+typedef enum /*< flags >*/ {
+    NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_NONE              = 0,
+    NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_RUNTIME           = 0x1,
+    NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT         = 0x2,
+    NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT_BY_NAME = 0x4,
+    NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT_BY_MAC  = 0x8,
+    NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_SET_ADMIN_STATE   = 0x10,
+
+    NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_ALL = 0x1F, /* <skip> */
+} NMDeviceManagedFlags;
+
 /**
  * NMTernary:
  * @NM_TERNARY_DEFAULT: use the globally-configured default value.
diff --git a/src/nmcli/devices.c b/src/nmcli/devices.c
index e81e710f44..2787439ec7 100644
--- a/src/nmcli/devices.c
+++ b/src/nmcli/devices.c
@@ -854,7 +854,8 @@ usage(void)
           "delete | monitor | wifi | lldp }\n\n"
           "  status\n\n"
           "  show [<ifname>]\n\n"
-          "  set [ifname] <ifname> [autoconnect yes|no] [managed yes|no]\n\n"
+          "  set [ifname] <ifname> [autoconnect yes|no] [managed [--permanent|--permanent-only] "
+          "yes|no|up|down|reset]\n\n"
           "  connect <ifname>\n\n"
           "  reapply <ifname>\n\n"
           "  modify <ifname> ([+|-]<setting>.<property> <value>)+\n\n"
@@ -972,14 +973,15 @@ usage_device_delete(void)
 static void
 usage_device_set(void)
 {
-    nmc_printerr(_("Usage: nmcli device set { ARGUMENTS | help }\n"
-                   "\n"
-                   "ARGUMENTS := DEVICE { PROPERTY [ PROPERTY ... ] }\n"
-                   "DEVICE    := [ifname] <ifname> \n"
-                   "PROPERTY  := { autoconnect { yes | no } |\n"
-                   "             { managed { yes | no }\n"
-                   "\n"
-                   "Modify device properties.\n\n"));
+    nmc_printerr(_(
+        "Usage: nmcli device set { ARGUMENTS | help }\n"
+        "\n"
+        "ARGUMENTS := DEVICE { PROPERTY [ PROPERTY ... ] }\n"
+        "DEVICE    := [ifname] <ifname> \n"
+        "PROPERTY  := { autoconnect { yes | no } |\n"
+        "             { managed [--permanent | --permanent-only] { yes | no | up | down | reset }\n"
+        "\n"
+        "Modify device properties.\n\n"));
 }
 
 static void
@@ -2793,20 +2795,62 @@ do_devices_delete(const NMCCommand *cmd, NmCli *nmc, int argc, const char *const
     }
 }
 
+typedef struct {
+    NmCli   *nmc;
+    GSource *timeout_source;
+} DeviceSetCbInfo;
+
+static void
+device_set_cb_info_finish(DeviceSetCbInfo *info)
+{
+    nm_clear_g_source_inst(&info->timeout_source);
+    g_slice_free(DeviceSetCbInfo, info);
+    quit();
+}
+
+static gboolean
+device_set_timeout_cb(gpointer user_data)
+{
+    DeviceSetCbInfo *cb_info = user_data;
+
+    timeout_cb(cb_info->nmc);
+    device_set_cb_info_finish(cb_info);
+    return G_SOURCE_REMOVE;
+}
+
+static void
+device_set_cb(GObject *object, GAsyncResult *result, gpointer user_data)
+{
+    NMDevice             *device = NM_DEVICE(object);
+    DeviceSetCbInfo      *info   = (DeviceSetCbInfo *) user_data;
+    NmCli                *nmc    = info->nmc;
+    gs_free_error GError *error  = NULL;
+
+    /* Only 'managed' is treated asynchronously, 'autoconnect' is treated synchronously */
+    if (!nm_device_set_managed_finish(device, result, &error)) {
+        g_string_printf(nmc->return_text, _("Error: set managed failed: %s."), error->message);
+        nmc->return_value = NMC_RESULT_ERROR_UNKNOWN;
+    }
+
+    device_set_cb_info_finish(info);
+}
+
 static void
 do_device_set(const NMCCommand *cmd, NmCli *nmc, int argc, const char *const *argv)
 {
-#define DEV_SET_AUTOCONNECT 0
-#define DEV_SET_MANAGED     1
-    NMDevice *device = NULL;
-    int       i;
+    NMDevice        *device  = NULL;
+    DeviceSetCbInfo *cb_info = NULL;
+    int              i;
     struct {
         int      idx;
         gboolean value;
-    } values[2] = {
-        [DEV_SET_AUTOCONNECT] = {-1},
-        [DEV_SET_MANAGED]     = {-1},
-    };
+    } autoconnect_data = {-1};
+    struct {
+        int             idx;
+        NMDeviceManaged value;
+        guint32         flags;
+    } managed_data = {-1};
+
     gs_free_error GError *error = NULL;
 
     next_arg(nmc, &argc, &argv, NULL);
@@ -2828,49 +2872,120 @@ do_device_set(const NMCCommand *cmd, NmCli *nmc, int argc, const char *const *ar
 
     i = 0;
     do {
-        gboolean flag;
-
         if (argc == 1 && nmc->complete)
             nmc_complete_strings(*argv, "managed", "autoconnect");
 
         if (matches(*argv, "managed")) {
+            NMDeviceManaged val;
+            guint32         flags = 0;
+            gboolean        val_bool;
+            gboolean        perm = FALSE, perm_only = FALSE;
+
             argc--;
             argv++;
+
+            if (argc == 1 && nmc->complete) {
+                nmc_complete_strings(*argv,
+                                     "true",
+                                     "yes",
+                                     "on",
+                                     "false",
+                                     "no",
+                                     "off",
+                                     "up",
+                                     "down",
+                                     "reset",
+                                     "--permanent",
+                                     "--permanent-only");
+            }
+
+            if (managed_data.idx != -1) {
+                g_string_printf(nmc->return_text, _("Error: 'managed' can only be set once."));
+                nmc->return_value = NMC_RESULT_ERROR_USER_INPUT;
+                return;
+            }
+
+            while (argc > 0) {
+                /* --perm matches with --permanent, the most common,
+                 * but --permanent-only requires a exact match */
+                if (nm_streq0(*argv, "--permanent-only"))
+                    perm_only = TRUE;
+                else if (matches(*argv, "--permanent"))
+                    perm = TRUE;
+                else
+                    break;
+                argc--;
+                argv++;
+            }
+
+            if (perm_only && perm) {
+                g_string_printf(
+                    nmc->return_text,
+                    _("Error: '--permanent-only' and '--permanent' cannot be used together."));
+                nmc->return_value = NMC_RESULT_ERROR_USER_INPUT;
+                return;
+            } else if (perm) {
+                flags |= NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_RUNTIME | NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT;
+            } else if (perm_only) {
+                flags |= NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_PERMANENT;
+            } else {
+                /* If --permanent/--permanent-only are missing, set only the runtime flag, as this
+                 * is how it used to work when these options didn't exist. */
+                flags |= NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_RUNTIME;
+            }
+
             if (!argc) {
-                g_string_printf(nmc->return_text,
-                                _("Error: '%s' argument is missing."),
-                                *(argv - 1));
+                g_string_printf(nmc->return_text, _("Error: 'managed' argument is missing."));
                 nmc->return_value = NMC_RESULT_ERROR_USER_INPUT;
                 return;
             }
-            if (argc == 1 && nmc->complete)
-                nmc_complete_bool(*argv);
-            if (!nmc_string_to_bool(*argv, &flag, &error)) {
-                g_string_printf(nmc->return_text, _("Error: 'managed': %s."), error->message);
+
+            if (matches(*argv, "up") || matches(*argv, "down")) {
+                flags |= NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_FLAGS_SET_ADMIN_STATE;
+                val = matches(*argv, "up") ? NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_YES : NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_NO;
+            } else if (matches(*argv, "reset")) {
+                val = NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_RESET;
+            } else if (nmc_string_to_bool(*argv, &val_bool, NULL)) {
+                val = val_bool ? NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_YES : NM_DEVICE_MANAGED_NO;
+            } else {
+                g_string_printf(
+                    nmc->return_text,
+                    _("Error: 'managed': '%s' is not valid, use 'yes/no/up/down/reset'."),
+                    *argv);
                 nmc->return_value = NMC_RESULT_ERROR_USER_INPUT;
                 return;
             }
-            values[DEV_SET_MANAGED].idx   = ++i;
-            values[DEV_SET_MANAGED].value = flag;
+
+            managed_data.idx   = i++;
+            managed_data.value = val;
+            managed_data.flags = flags;
         } else if (matches(*argv, "autoconnect")) {
+            gboolean val;
+
             argc--;
             argv++;
+
             if (!argc) {
-                g_string_printf(nmc->return_text,
-                                _("Error: '%s' argument is missing."),
-                                *(argv - 1));
+                g_string_printf(nmc->return_text, _("Error: 'autoconnect' argument is missing."));
                 nmc->return_value = NMC_RESULT_ERROR_USER_INPUT;
                 return;
             }
+            if (autoconnect_data.idx != -1) {
+                g_string_printf(nmc->return_text, _("Error: 'autoconnect' can only be set once."));
+                nmc->return_value = NMC_RESULT_ERROR_USER_INPUT;
+                return;
+            }
+
             if (argc == 1 && nmc->complete)
                 nmc_complete_bool(*argv);
-            if (!nmc_string_to_bool(*argv, &flag, &error)) {
+
+            if (!nmc_string_to_bool(*argv, &val, &error)) {
                 g_string_printf(nmc->return_text, _("Error: 'autoconnect': %s."), error->message);
                 nmc->return_value = NMC_RESULT_ERROR_USER_INPUT;
                 return;
             }
-            values[DEV_SET_AUTOCONNECT].idx   = ++i;
-            values[DEV_SET_AUTOCONNECT].value = flag;
+            autoconnect_data.idx   = i++;
+            autoconnect_data.value = val;
         } else {
             g_string_printf(nmc->return_text, _("Error: property '%s' is not known."), *argv);
             nmc->return_value = NMC_RESULT_ERROR_USER_INPUT;
@@ -2883,15 +2998,28 @@ do_device_set(const NMCCommand *cmd, NmCli *nmc, int argc, const char *const *ar
 
     /* when multiple properties are specified, set them in the order as they
      * are specified on the command line. */
-    if (values[DEV_SET_AUTOCONNECT].idx >= 0 && values[DEV_SET_MANAGED].idx >= 0
-        && values[DEV_SET_MANAGED].idx < values[DEV_SET_AUTOCONNECT].idx) {
-        nm_device_set_managed(device, values[DEV_SET_MANAGED].value);
-        values[DEV_SET_MANAGED].idx = -1;
+    for (i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
+        if (autoconnect_data.idx == i) {
+            nm_device_set_autoconnect(device, autoconnect_data.value);
+        }
+        if (managed_data.idx == i) {
+            cb_info      = g_slice_new0(DeviceSetCbInfo);
+            cb_info->nmc = nmc;
+            if (nmc->timeout > 0)
+                cb_info->timeout_source =
+                    nm_g_timeout_add_seconds_source(nmc->timeout, device_set_timeout_cb, cb_info);
+
+            nmc->nowait_flag = (nmc->timeout == 0);
+            nmc->should_wait++;
+
+            nm_device_set_managed_async(device,
+                                        managed_data.value,
+                                        managed_data.flags,
+                                        NULL,
+                                        device_set_cb,
+                                        cb_info);
+        }
     }
-    if (values[DEV_SET_AUTOCONNECT].idx >= 0)
-        nm_device_set_autoconnect(device, values[DEV_SET_AUTOCONNECT].value);
-    if (values[DEV_SET_MANAGED].idx >= 0)
-        nm_device_set_managed(device, values[DEV_SET_MANAGED].value);
 }
 
 static void