diff --git a/src/network/netdev/bridge.c b/src/network/netdev/bridge.c
index 7c38708121..15edc7aed6 100644
--- a/src/network/netdev/bridge.c
+++ b/src/network/netdev/bridge.c
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ static int netdev_bridge_post_create_message(NetDev *netdev, sd_netlink_message
         }
 
         if (b->vlan_protocol >= 0) {
-                r = sd_netlink_message_append_u16(req, IFLA_BR_VLAN_PROTOCOL, b->vlan_protocol);
+                r = sd_netlink_message_append_u16(req, IFLA_BR_VLAN_PROTOCOL, htobe16(b->vlan_protocol));
                 if (r < 0)
                         return r;
         }