diff --git a/src/settings/nm-settings.c b/src/settings/nm-settings.c
index 45cfbd068..09de8de8e 100644
--- a/src/settings/nm-settings.c
+++ b/src/settings/nm-settings.c
@@ -3435,7 +3435,8 @@ device_realized (NMDevice *device, GParamSpec *pspec, NMSettings *self)
 	/* If the device isn't managed or it already has a default wired connection,
 	 * ignore it.
 	 */
-	if (   !nm_device_get_managed (device, FALSE)
+	if (   !NM_DEVICE_GET_CLASS (self)->new_default_connection
+	    || !nm_device_get_managed (device, FALSE)
 	    || g_object_get_qdata (G_OBJECT (device), _default_wired_connection_quark ())
 	    || have_connection_for_device (self, device)
 	    || nm_config_get_no_auto_default_for_device (priv->config, device))