diff --git a/ncm-network/src/main/perl/nmstate.pm b/ncm-network/src/main/perl/nmstate.pm
index ca5cfcc7a1..8753040143 100644
--- a/ncm-network/src/main/perl/nmstate.pm
+++ b/ncm-network/src/main/perl/nmstate.pm
@@ -408,10 +408,11 @@ sub generate_nmstate_config
         $ifaceconfig->{state} = "up";
         $ifaceconfig->{bridge}->{options} = {
             stp => $YTRUE,
-            port => delete $ifaceconfig->{ports},
         };
+        $ifaceconfig->{bridge}->{port} => delete $ifaceconfig->{ports};
     } elsif (lc($iface->{type} || '') eq 'ovsintport') {
         $ifaceconfig->{type} = "ovs-interface";
+        $ifaceconfig->{state} = "up";
     } elsif ($is_eth) {
         $ifaceconfig->{type} = "ethernet";
         if ($is_partof_bond) {
@@ -671,18 +672,35 @@ sub clear_inactive_nm_connections
     }
 }
 
+# return ordered list of interface keys
+sub nmstate_order($self, $ifaces)
+{
+    my ($self, $ifaces) = @_;
+
+    # do no use the value 0 in the score; it will break the || $default logic when the value is 0
+    my $default = 10;  # lowest / first
+    my $score = {
+        bond => 20,  # slaves need to be alive
+        "ovs-interface" => 30,  # can only be ports of a bridge, this could probably be 0 as well
+        "ovs-bridge" => 40,  # needs ports alive; these can be anything with lower score
+    };
+
+    # compare on (score or default)
+    my @sorted_ifnames = sort {
+        ($score->{$ifaces->{$a}->{$type}} || $default) <=> ($score->{$ifaces->{$b}->{$type}} || $default)
+    } keys %$ifaces;
+
+    return @sorted_ifaces;
+}
+
+
 sub nmstate_apply
 {
     my ($self, $exifiles, $ifup, $ifdown, $nwsrv) = @_;
 
 
-    my @ifaces = sort keys %$ifup;
-    my @ifaces_down = sort keys %$ifdown;
-
-    # primitive re-ordering to make sure eg bond are apply'ed last, and removed first
-    my $order_pattern = '^bond';
-    @ifaces = ((grep {$_ !~ m/$order_pattern/} @ifaces), (grep {$_ =~ m/$order_pattern/} @ifaces));
-    @ifaces_down = ((grep {$_ =~ m/$order_pattern/} @ifaces_down), (grep {$_ !~ m/$order_pattern/} @ifaces_down));
+    my @ifaces = $self->nmstate_order($ifup);
+    my @ifaces_down = reverse $self->nmstate_order($ifdown);
 
     my $action;