diff --git a/libifupdown/interface-file.c b/libifupdown/interface-file.c
index d2e88ac..6481be8 100644
--- a/libifupdown/interface-file.c
+++ b/libifupdown/interface-file.c
@@ -172,6 +172,9 @@ handle_auto(struct lif_interface_file_parse_state *state, char *token, char *buf
 	if (!state->cur_iface->is_template)
 		state->cur_iface->is_auto = true;
 
+	if (state->cur_iface->is_auto)
+		state->cur_iface->is_explicit = true;
+
 	return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/libifupdown/interface.c b/libifupdown/interface.c
index 532edba..7e96bcd 100644
--- a/libifupdown/interface.c
+++ b/libifupdown/interface.c
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ lif_interface_collection_init(struct lif_dict *collection)
 	/* always enable loopback interface as part of a collection */
 	if_lo = lif_interface_collection_find(collection, "lo");
 	if_lo->is_auto = true;
+	if_lo->is_explicit = true;
 	lif_interface_use_executor(if_lo, "loopback");
 }