diff --git a/src/devices/nm-device.c b/src/devices/nm-device.c
index b5d3af68c6..6d26ef8944 100644
--- a/src/devices/nm-device.c
+++ b/src/devices/nm-device.c
@@ -13463,6 +13463,12 @@ nm_device_get_initial_hw_address (NMDevice *self)
  */
 gboolean
 nm_device_spec_match_list (NMDevice *self, const GSList *specs)
+{
+	return nm_device_spec_match_list_full (self, specs, FALSE);
+}
+
+int
+nm_device_spec_match_list_full (NMDevice *self, const GSList *specs, int no_match_value)
 {
 	NMDeviceClass *klass;
 	NMMatchSpecMatchType m;
@@ -13478,7 +13484,17 @@ nm_device_spec_match_list (NMDevice *self, const GSList *specs)
 	                          nm_device_get_driver_version (self),
 	                          nm_device_get_permanent_hw_address (self),
 	                          klass->get_s390_subchannels ? klass->get_s390_subchannels (self) : NULL);
-	return m == NM_MATCH_SPEC_MATCH;
+
+	switch (m) {
+	case NM_MATCH_SPEC_MATCH:
+		return TRUE;
+	case NM_MATCH_SPEC_NEG_MATCH:
+		return FALSE;
+	case NM_MATCH_SPEC_NO_MATCH:
+		return no_match_value;
+	}
+	nm_assert_not_reached ();
+	return no_match_value;
 }
 
 guint
diff --git a/src/devices/nm-device.h b/src/devices/nm-device.h
index e7d79947cc..171dfdc1c8 100644
--- a/src/devices/nm-device.h
+++ b/src/devices/nm-device.h
@@ -507,6 +507,7 @@ gboolean nm_device_check_slave_connection_compatible (NMDevice *device, NMConnec
 gboolean nm_device_unmanage_on_quit (NMDevice *self);
 
 gboolean nm_device_spec_match_list (NMDevice *device, const GSList *specs);
+int      nm_device_spec_match_list_full (NMDevice *self, const GSList *specs, int no_match_value);
 
 gboolean nm_device_is_activating (NMDevice *dev);
 gboolean nm_device_autoconnect_allowed (NMDevice *self);