diff --git a/docs/schemas/interface.rng b/docs/schemas/interface.rng
index 27610a544c..80962d4db8 100644
--- a/docs/schemas/interface.rng
+++ b/docs/schemas/interface.rng
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
          of the form DEVICE.VLAN
     -->
     <optional><ref name="name-attr"/></optional>
+    <ref name="link-speed-state"/>
   </define>
 
   <define name="vlan-device">
@@ -156,6 +157,7 @@
       <value>bond</value>
     </attribute>
     <ref name="name-attr"/>
+    <ref name="link-speed-state"/>
   </define>
 
   <define name="bond-element">
diff --git a/src/conf/interface_conf.c b/src/conf/interface_conf.c
index 2b3f69928e..397920b2d9 100644
--- a/src/conf/interface_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/interface_conf.c
@@ -669,6 +669,8 @@ virInterfaceDefParseXML(xmlXPathContextPtr ctxt, int parentIfType)
     int type;
     char *tmp;
     xmlNodePtr cur = ctxt->node;
+    xmlNodePtr lnk;
+
 
     /* check @type */
     tmp = virXPathString("string(./@type)", ctxt);
@@ -704,20 +706,22 @@ virInterfaceDefParseXML(xmlXPathContextPtr ctxt, int parentIfType)
         goto error;
     }
     def->type = type;
+
+    if (type != VIR_INTERFACE_TYPE_BRIDGE) {
+        /* link status makes no sense for a bridge */
+        lnk = virXPathNode("./link", ctxt);
+        if (lnk && virInterfaceLinkParseXML(lnk, &def->lnk) < 0)
+            goto error;
+    }
+
     switch (type) {
         case VIR_INTERFACE_TYPE_ETHERNET: {
-            xmlNodePtr lnk;
-
             if (virInterfaceDefParseName(def, ctxt) < 0)
                 goto error;
             tmp = virXPathString("string(./mac/@address)", ctxt);
             if (tmp != NULL)
                 def->mac = tmp;
 
-            lnk = virXPathNode("./link", ctxt);
-            if (lnk && virInterfaceLinkParseXML(lnk, &def->lnk) < 0)
-                goto error;
-
             if (parentIfType == VIR_INTERFACE_TYPE_LAST) {
                 /* only recognize these in toplevel bond interfaces */
                 if (virInterfaceDefParseStartMode(def, ctxt) < 0)
@@ -1110,6 +1114,7 @@ virInterfaceDefDevFormat(virBufferPtr buf, const virInterfaceDef *def)
             break;
         case VIR_INTERFACE_TYPE_BOND:
             virInterfaceStartmodeDefFormat(buf, def->startmode);
+            virInterfaceLinkFormat(buf, &def->lnk);
             if (def->mtu != 0)
                 virBufferAsprintf(buf, "<mtu size='%d'/>\n", def->mtu);
             virInterfaceProtocolDefFormat(buf, def);
@@ -1119,6 +1124,7 @@ virInterfaceDefDevFormat(virBufferPtr buf, const virInterfaceDef *def)
             virInterfaceStartmodeDefFormat(buf, def->startmode);
             if (def->mac != NULL)
                 virBufferAsprintf(buf, "<mac address='%s'/>\n", def->mac);
+            virInterfaceLinkFormat(buf, &def->lnk);
             if (def->mtu != 0)
                 virBufferAsprintf(buf, "<mtu size='%d'/>\n", def->mtu);
             virInterfaceProtocolDefFormat(buf, def);
diff --git a/tests/interfaceschemadata/bond.xml b/tests/interfaceschemadata/bond.xml
index c4e6d403bc..cbc1dfa8aa 100644
--- a/tests/interfaceschemadata/bond.xml
+++ b/tests/interfaceschemadata/bond.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <interface type='bond' name='bond0'>
   <start mode='none'/>
+  <link speed='1000' state='up'/>
   <protocol family='ipv4'>
     <ip address='192.168.50.7' prefix='24'/>
     <route gateway='192.168.50.1'/>
diff --git a/tests/interfaceschemadata/vlan.xml b/tests/interfaceschemadata/vlan.xml
index a9570e3361..6432b96240 100644
--- a/tests/interfaceschemadata/vlan.xml
+++ b/tests/interfaceschemadata/vlan.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <interface type='vlan' name='eth0.42'>
   <start mode='onboot'/>
+  <link state='lowerlayerdown'/>
   <protocol family='ipv4'>
     <dhcp peerdns='no'/>
   </protocol>