diff --git a/os_net_config/__init__.py b/os_net_config/__init__.py
index c909701c..927907b6 100644
--- a/os_net_config/__init__.py
+++ b/os_net_config/__init__.py
@@ -334,5 +334,19 @@ class NetConfig(object):
                      'link', 'set', 'dev', newname, 'up')
 
     def ovs_appctl(self, action, *parameters):
+        """Run 'ovs-appctl' with the specified action
+
+         Its possible the command may fail due to timing if, for example,
+         the command affects an interface and it the prior ifup command
+         has not completed.  So retry the command and if a failures still
+         occurs save the error for later handling.
+
+         :param action: The ovs-appctl action.
+         :param parameters: Parameters to pass to ovs-appctl.
+         """
         msg = 'Running ovs-appctl %s %s' % (action, parameters)
-        self.execute(msg, '/bin/ovs-appctl', action, *parameters)
+        try:
+            self.execute(msg, '/bin/ovs-appctl', action, *parameters,
+                         delay_on_retry=True, attempts=5)
+        except processutils.ProcessExecutionError as e:
+            self.errors.append(e)
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/retry_ovs-appctl-6734b087ab6db80b.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/retry_ovs-appctl-6734b087ab6db80b.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4e7efbf4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/retry_ovs-appctl-6734b087ab6db80b.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - The ovs-appctl command may fail, particularly when setting an
+    interface as a slave in a bond if the primary interface is not
+    yet up.  Retry the ovs-appctl command and log a failure if the
+    command still fails.