diff --git a/libnmstate/nm/applier.py b/libnmstate/nm/applier.py
index 4d40862..26a057f 100644
--- a/libnmstate/nm/applier.py
+++ b/libnmstate/nm/applier.py
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ def apply_changes(context, net_state, save_to_disk):
                 and cur_con_profile
                 and cur_con_profile.profile
                 and not net_state.ifaces[ifname].is_changed
+                and cur_con_profile.is_memory_only != save_to_disk
             ):
                 # Don't create new profile if original desire does not ask
                 # anything besides state:up and not been marked as changed.
diff --git a/libnmstate/nm/connection.py b/libnmstate/nm/connection.py
index 5804f13..1f6c734 100644
--- a/libnmstate/nm/connection.py
+++ b/libnmstate/nm/connection.py
@@ -163,6 +163,16 @@ class ConnectionProfile:
         self._con_profile = con_profile
 
     @property
+    def is_memory_only(self):
+        if self._con_profile:
+            profile_flags = self._con_profile.get_flags()
+            return (
+                NM.SettingsConnectionFlags.UNSAVED & profile_flags
+                or NM.SettingsConnectionFlags.VOLATILE & profile_flags
+            )
+        return False
+
+    @property
     def devname(self):
         if self._con_profile:
             return self._con_profile.get_interface_name()