diff --git a/tests/cli-test-xml/compare/virt-install-many-devices.xml b/tests/cli-test-xml/compare/virt-install-many-devices.xml
index eee26cc9..c6b022a9 100644
--- a/tests/cli-test-xml/compare/virt-install-many-devices.xml
+++ b/tests/cli-test-xml/compare/virt-install-many-devices.xml
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@
       <source portgroup="foo"/>
       <mac address="12:34:56:78:11:22"/>
       <model type="virtio"/>
+      <link state="down"/>
     </interface>
     <interface type="bridge">
       <source bridge="foobar"/>
@@ -179,6 +180,7 @@
       <virtualport type="openvswitch">
         <parameters profileid="demo" interfaceid="09b11c53-8b5c-4eeb-8f00-d84eaa0aaa3b"/>
       </virtualport>
+      <link state="up"/>
     </interface>
     <interface type="direct">
       <source dev="eth5" mode="vepa"/>
diff --git a/tests/clitest.py b/tests/clitest.py
index c3180f6b..cfb430fc 100644
--- a/tests/clitest.py
+++ b/tests/clitest.py
@@ -461,9 +461,9 @@ c.add_compare(""" \
 --disk vol=gluster-pool/test-gluster.raw,startup_policy=optional \
 --disk %(DIR)s,device=floppy \
 \
---network user,mac=12:34:56:78:11:22,portgroup=foo \
+--network user,mac=12:34:56:78:11:22,portgroup=foo,link_state=down \
 --network bridge=foobar,model=virtio,driver_name=qemu,driver_queues=3 \
---network bridge=ovsbr,virtualport_type=openvswitch,virtualport_profileid=demo,virtualport_interfaceid=09b11c53-8b5c-4eeb-8f00-d84eaa0aaa3b \
+--network bridge=ovsbr,virtualport_type=openvswitch,virtualport_profileid=demo,virtualport_interfaceid=09b11c53-8b5c-4eeb-8f00-d84eaa0aaa3b,link_state=yes \
 --network type=direct,source=eth5,source_mode=vepa,target=mytap12,virtualport_type=802.1Qbg,virtualport_managerid=12,virtualport_typeid=1193046,virtualport_typeidversion=1,virtualport_instanceid=09b11c53-8b5c-4eeb-8f00-d84eaa0aaa3b,boot_order=1 \
 \
 --graphics sdl \
diff --git a/virtinst/cli.py b/virtinst/cli.py
index a0df0648..30e8637d 100644
--- a/virtinst/cli.py
+++ b/virtinst/cli.py
@@ -738,22 +738,23 @@ def add_disk_option(stog, editexample=False):
 # (for options like --disk, --network, etc. #
 #############################################
 
+def _raw_on_off_convert(s):
+    tvalues = ["y", "yes", "1", "true", "t", "on"]
+    fvalues = ["n", "no", "0", "false", "f", "off"]
+
+    s = (s or "").lower()
+    if s in tvalues:
+        return True
+    elif s in fvalues:
+        return False
+    return None
+
+
 def _on_off_convert(key, val):
     if val is None:
         return None
 
-    def _yes_no_convert(s):
-        tvalues = ["y", "yes", "1", "true", "t", "on"]
-        fvalues = ["n", "no", "0", "false", "f", "off"]
-
-        s = (s or "").lower()
-        if s in tvalues:
-            return True
-        elif s in fvalues:
-            return False
-        return None
-
-    val = _yes_no_convert(val)
+    val = _raw_on_off_convert(val)
     if val is not None:
         return val
     raise fail(_("%(key)s must be 'yes' or 'no'") % {"key": key})
@@ -1770,6 +1771,21 @@ class ParserNetwork(VirtCLIParser):
             else:
                 inst.type = val
 
+        def set_link_state(opts, inst, cliname, val):
+            ignore = opts
+            ignore = cliname
+
+            if val in ["up", "down"]:
+                inst.link_state = val
+                return
+
+            ret = _raw_on_off_convert(val)
+            if ret is True:
+                val = "up"
+            elif ret is False:
+                val = "down"
+            inst.link_state = val
+
         self.set_param("type", "type", setter_cb=set_type_cb)
         self.set_param("source", "source")
         self.set_param("source_mode", "source_mode")
@@ -1779,6 +1795,7 @@ class ParserNetwork(VirtCLIParser):
         self.set_param("macaddr", "mac", setter_cb=set_mac_cb)
         self.set_param("filterref", "filterref")
         self.set_param("boot.order", "boot_order")
+        self.set_param("link_state", "link_state", setter_cb=set_link_state)
 
         self.set_param("driver_name", "driver_name")
         self.set_param("driver_queues", "driver_queues")
diff --git a/virtinst/deviceinterface.py b/virtinst/deviceinterface.py
index 40aaf68d..9f3ee9f6 100644
--- a/virtinst/deviceinterface.py
+++ b/virtinst/deviceinterface.py
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ class VirtualNetworkInterface(VirtualDevice):
     model = XMLProperty("./model/@type")
     target_dev = XMLProperty("./target/@dev")
     filterref = XMLProperty("./filterref/@filter")
+    link_state = XMLProperty("./link/@state")
 
     driver_name = XMLProperty("./driver/@name")
     driver_queues = XMLProperty("./driver/@queues", is_int=True)