diff --git a/src/conf/network_conf.c b/src/conf/network_conf.c
index ebc8061a2e..82251184cb 100644
--- a/src/conf/network_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/network_conf.c
@@ -352,6 +352,20 @@ virNetworkObjSetDefTransient(virNetworkObjPtr network, bool live)
     return network->newDef ? 0 : -1;
 }
 
+/* virNetworkObjUnsetDefTransient:
+ *
+ * This *undoes* what virNetworkObjSetDefTransient did.
+ */
+void
+virNetworkObjUnsetDefTransient(virNetworkObjPtr network)
+{
+    if (network->def) {
+        virNetworkDefFree(network->def);
+        network->def = network->newDef;
+        network->newDef = NULL;
+    }
+}
+
 /*
  * virNetworkObjGetPersistentDef:
  * @network: network object pointer
diff --git a/src/conf/network_conf.h b/src/conf/network_conf.h
index 55502fb2fc..4c0c8c1fbf 100644
--- a/src/conf/network_conf.h
+++ b/src/conf/network_conf.h
@@ -253,6 +253,7 @@ int virNetworkObjAssignDef(virNetworkObjPtr network,
                            const virNetworkDefPtr def,
                            bool live);
 int virNetworkObjSetDefTransient(virNetworkObjPtr network, bool live);
+void virNetworkObjUnsetDefTransient(virNetworkObjPtr network);
 virNetworkDefPtr virNetworkObjGetPersistentDef(virNetworkObjPtr network);
 int virNetworkObjReplacePersistentDef(virNetworkObjPtr network,
                                       virNetworkDefPtr def);
diff --git a/src/libvirt_private.syms b/src/libvirt_private.syms
index be24d88f79..850b92dedd 100644
--- a/src/libvirt_private.syms
+++ b/src/libvirt_private.syms
@@ -864,6 +864,7 @@ virNetworkObjLock;
 virNetworkObjReplacePersistentDef;
 virNetworkObjSetDefTransient;
 virNetworkObjUnlock;
+virNetworkObjUnsetDefTransient;
 virNetworkObjUpdate;
 virNetworkRemoveInactive;
 virNetworkSaveConfig;
diff --git a/src/network/bridge_driver.c b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
index e1846ee6d3..4b37a58041 100644
--- a/src/network/bridge_driver.c
+++ b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
@@ -2327,8 +2327,10 @@ networkStartNetwork(struct network_driver *driver,
         break;
     }
 
-    if (ret < 0)
+    if (ret < 0) {
+        virNetworkObjUnsetDefTransient(network);
         return ret;
+    }
 
     /* Persist the live configuration now that anything autogenerated
      * is setup.
@@ -2388,13 +2390,7 @@ static int networkShutdownNetwork(struct network_driver *driver,
     }
 
     network->active = 0;
-
-    if (network->newDef) {
-        virNetworkDefFree(network->def);
-        network->def = network->newDef;
-        network->newDef = NULL;
-    }
-
+    virNetworkObjUnsetDefTransient(network);
     return ret;
 }