diff --git a/src/vpn/nm-vpn-connection.c b/src/vpn/nm-vpn-connection.c
index 1a858060f0..284a909aac 100644
--- a/src/vpn/nm-vpn-connection.c
+++ b/src/vpn/nm-vpn-connection.c
@@ -1135,6 +1135,8 @@ nm_vpn_connection_apply_config (NMVpnConnection *self)
 {
 	NMVpnConnectionPrivate *priv = NM_VPN_CONNECTION_GET_PRIVATE (self);
 
+	apply_parent_device_config (self);
+
 	if (priv->ip_ifindex > 0) {
 		nm_platform_link_set_up (nm_netns_get_platform (priv->netns), priv->ip_ifindex, NULL);
 
@@ -1157,8 +1159,6 @@ nm_vpn_connection_apply_config (NMVpnConnection *self)
 			nm_platform_link_set_mtu (nm_netns_get_platform (priv->netns), priv->ip_ifindex, priv->mtu);
 	}
 
-	apply_parent_device_config (self);
-
 	nm_default_route_manager_ip4_update_default_route (nm_netns_get_default_route_manager (priv->netns), self);
 	nm_default_route_manager_ip6_update_default_route (nm_netns_get_default_route_manager (priv->netns), self);