diff --git a/package/base-files/files/bin/config_generate b/package/base-files/files/bin/config_generate
index 56f6c4423b342b..0f6f280cf095e7 100755
--- a/package/base-files/files/bin/config_generate
+++ b/package/base-files/files/bin/config_generate
@@ -110,8 +110,14 @@ generate_network() {
 	}
 
 	[ -n "$ports" ] && {
-		type="bridge"
-		ifname="$ports"
+		uci -q batch <<-EOF
+			add network device
+			set network.@device[-1].name='$1'
+			set network.@device[-1].type='bridge'
+		EOF
+		for port in $ports; do uci add_list network.@device[-1].ports="$port"; done
+		ifname=$1
+		type=
 	}
 
 	[ -n "$bridge" ] && {