diff --git a/src/nm-manager.c b/src/nm-manager.c
index d646e23ff..a74021951 100644
--- a/src/nm-manager.c
+++ b/src/nm-manager.c
@@ -1853,6 +1853,7 @@ recheck_assume_connection (NMManager *self,
 	gboolean generated = FALSE;
 	NMDeviceState state;
 	NMDeviceSysIfaceState if_state;
+	NMManagerPrivate *priv = NM_MANAGER_GET_PRIVATE (self);
 
 	g_return_val_if_fail (NM_IS_MANAGER (self), FALSE);
 	g_return_val_if_fail (NM_IS_DEVICE (device), FALSE);
@@ -1868,7 +1869,7 @@ recheck_assume_connection (NMManager *self,
 		return FALSE;
 
 	if_state = nm_device_sys_iface_state_get (device);
-	if (if_state == NM_DEVICE_SYS_IFACE_STATE_MANAGED)
+	if (!priv->startup  && (if_state == NM_DEVICE_SYS_IFACE_STATE_MANAGED))
 		nm_assert (!guess_assume && (assume_connection_uuid == NULL));
 	else if (if_state != NM_DEVICE_SYS_IFACE_STATE_EXTERNAL)
 		return FALSE;