diff --git a/src/fu-device-list.c b/src/fu-device-list.c
index 0f7fb81d7..6f7f307dd 100644
--- a/src/fu-device-list.c
+++ b/src/fu-device-list.c
@@ -436,6 +436,33 @@ fu_device_list_add (FuDeviceList *self, FuDevice *device)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	/* added the same device from a different plugin */
+	if (item != NULL && g_strcmp0 (fu_device_get_plugin (item->device),
+				       fu_device_get_plugin (device)) != 0) {
+		if (fu_device_get_priority (device) < fu_device_get_priority (item->device)) {
+			g_debug ("ignoring device %s [%s] as better device %s [%s] already exists",
+				 fu_device_get_id (device),
+				 fu_device_get_plugin (device),
+				 fu_device_get_id (item->device),
+				 fu_device_get_plugin (item->device));
+			return;
+		}
+		if (fu_device_get_priority (device) == fu_device_get_priority (item->device)) {
+			g_warning ("ignoring device %s [%s] existing device %s [%s] already exists",
+				   fu_device_get_id (device),
+				   fu_device_get_plugin (device),
+				   fu_device_get_id (item->device),
+				   fu_device_get_plugin (item->device));
+			return;
+		}
+		g_debug ("removing device %s [%s] as better device %s [%s] added",
+			 fu_device_get_id (item->device),
+			 fu_device_get_plugin (item->device),
+			 fu_device_get_id (device),
+			 fu_device_get_plugin (device));
+		fu_device_list_remove (self, item->device);
+	}
+
 	/* add helper */
 	item = g_new0 (FuDeviceItem, 1);
 	item->self = self; /* no ref */
diff --git a/src/fu-device-private.h b/src/fu-device-private.h
index 7832b04b7..38dec12f9 100644
--- a/src/fu-device-private.h
+++ b/src/fu-device-private.h
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ gboolean	 fu_device_has_parent_guid		(FuDevice	*device,
 guint		 fu_device_get_order			(FuDevice	*device);
 void		 fu_device_set_order			(FuDevice	*device,
 							 guint		 order);
+guint		 fu_device_get_priority			(FuDevice	*device);
+void		 fu_device_set_priority			(FuDevice	*device,
+							 guint		 priority);
 void		 fu_device_set_alternate		(FuDevice	*device,
 							 FuDevice	*alternate);
 
diff --git a/src/fu-device.c b/src/fu-device.c
index a205ba2e7..953eefc49 100644
--- a/src/fu-device.c
+++ b/src/fu-device.c
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ typedef struct {
 	FwupdStatus			 status;
 	guint				 progress;
 	guint				 order;
+	guint				 priority;
 } FuDevicePrivate;
 
 enum {
@@ -137,6 +138,39 @@ fu_device_set_order (FuDevice *device, guint order)
 	priv->order = order;
 }
 
+/**
+ * fu_device_get_priority:
+ * @device: a #FuPlugin
+ *
+ * Gets the device priority, where higher numbers are better.
+ *
+ * Returns: the integer value
+ *
+ * Since: 1.1.1
+ **/
+guint
+fu_device_get_priority (FuDevice *device)
+{
+	FuDevicePrivate *priv = fu_device_get_instance_private (device);
+	return priv->priority;
+}
+
+/**
+ * fu_device_set_priority:
+ * @device: a #FuDevice
+ * @priority: a integer value
+ *
+ * Sets the device priority, where higher numbers are better.
+ *
+ * Since: 1.1.1
+ **/
+void
+fu_device_set_priority (FuDevice *device, guint priority)
+{
+	FuDevicePrivate *priv = fu_device_get_instance_private (device);
+	priv->priority = priority;
+}
+
 const gchar *
 fu_device_get_equivalent_id (FuDevice *device)
 {
diff --git a/src/fu-engine.c b/src/fu-engine.c
index 3bf3ae07e..9bd282452 100644
--- a/src/fu-engine.c
+++ b/src/fu-engine.c
@@ -2813,6 +2813,7 @@ fu_engine_plugin_device_added_cb (FuPlugin *plugin,
 				  gpointer user_data)
 {
 	FuEngine *self = (FuEngine *) user_data;
+	fu_device_set_priority (device, fu_plugin_get_priority (plugin));
 	fu_engine_add_device (self, device);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/fu-plugin-list.c b/src/fu-plugin-list.c
index ab8199cf1..e2dd40450 100644
--- a/src/fu-plugin-list.c
+++ b/src/fu-plugin-list.c
@@ -198,6 +198,36 @@ fu_plugin_list_depsolve (FuPluginList *self, GError **error)
 			}
 		}
 
+		/* set priority as well */
+		for (guint i = 0; i < self->plugins->len; i++) {
+			FuPlugin *plugin = g_ptr_array_index (self->plugins, i);
+			deps = fu_plugin_get_rules (plugin, FU_PLUGIN_RULE_BETTER_THAN);
+			for (guint j = 0; j < deps->len && !changes; j++) {
+				const gchar *plugin_name = g_ptr_array_index (deps, j);
+				dep = fu_plugin_list_find_by_name (self, plugin_name, NULL);
+				if (dep == NULL) {
+					g_debug ("cannot find plugin '%s' "
+						 "referenced by '%s'",
+						 plugin_name,
+						 fu_plugin_get_name (plugin));
+					continue;
+				}
+				if (!fu_plugin_get_enabled (dep))
+					continue;
+				if (fu_plugin_get_priority (plugin) <= fu_plugin_get_priority (dep)) {
+					g_debug ("%s [%u] better than %s [%u] "
+						 "so bumping to [%u]",
+						 fu_plugin_get_name (plugin),
+						 fu_plugin_get_priority (plugin),
+						 fu_plugin_get_name (dep),
+						 fu_plugin_get_priority (dep),
+						 fu_plugin_get_priority (dep) + 1);
+					fu_plugin_set_priority (plugin, fu_plugin_get_priority (dep) + 1);
+					changes = TRUE;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
 		/* check we're not stuck */
 		if (dep_loop_check++ > 100) {
 			g_set_error_literal (error,
diff --git a/src/fu-plugin-private.h b/src/fu-plugin-private.h
index f7c352eb1..8af9744c0 100644
--- a/src/fu-plugin-private.h
+++ b/src/fu-plugin-private.h
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ void		 fu_plugin_set_smbios			(FuPlugin	*plugin,
 guint		 fu_plugin_get_order			(FuPlugin	*plugin);
 void		 fu_plugin_set_order			(FuPlugin	*plugin,
 							 guint		 order);
+guint		 fu_plugin_get_priority			(FuPlugin	*plugin);
+void		 fu_plugin_set_priority			(FuPlugin	*plugin,
+							 guint		 priority);
 void		 fu_plugin_set_name			(FuPlugin	*plugin,
 							 const gchar 	*name);
 GPtrArray	*fu_plugin_get_rules			(FuPlugin	*plugin,
diff --git a/src/fu-plugin.c b/src/fu-plugin.c
index 3f7c00364..8adda50b7 100644
--- a/src/fu-plugin.c
+++ b/src/fu-plugin.c
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ typedef struct {
 	GUsbContext		*usb_ctx;
 	gboolean		 enabled;
 	guint			 order;
+	guint			 priority;
 	GPtrArray		*rules[FU_PLUGIN_RULE_LAST];
 	gchar			*name;
 	FuHwids			*hwids;
@@ -1475,6 +1476,35 @@ fu_plugin_set_order (FuPlugin *plugin, guint order)
 	priv->order = order;
 }
 
+/**
+ * fu_plugin_get_priority:
+ * @plugin: a #FuPlugin
+ *
+ * Gets the plugin priority, where higher numbers are better.
+ *
+ * Returns: the integer value
+ **/
+guint
+fu_plugin_get_priority (FuPlugin *plugin)
+{
+	FuPluginPrivate *priv = fu_plugin_get_instance_private (plugin);
+	return priv->priority;
+}
+
+/**
+ * fu_plugin_set_priority:
+ * @plugin: a #FuPlugin
+ * @priority: a integer value
+ *
+ * Sets the plugin priority, where higher numbers are better.
+ **/
+void
+fu_plugin_set_priority (FuPlugin *plugin, guint priority)
+{
+	FuPluginPrivate *priv = fu_plugin_get_instance_private (plugin);
+	priv->priority = priority;
+}
+
 /**
  * fu_plugin_add_rule:
  * @plugin: a #FuPlugin
diff --git a/src/fu-plugin.h b/src/fu-plugin.h
index 4014cd047..9cde5e5ef 100644
--- a/src/fu-plugin.h
+++ b/src/fu-plugin.h
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ typedef enum {
  * @FU_PLUGIN_RULE_RUN_AFTER:		Order the plugin after another
  * @FU_PLUGIN_RULE_RUN_BEFORE:		Order the plugin before another
  * @FU_PLUGIN_RULE_REQUIRES_QUIRK:	Requires a specific quirk
+ * @FU_PLUGIN_RULE_BETTER_THAN:		Is better than another plugin
  *
  * The rules used for ordering plugins.
  * Plugins are expected to add rules in fu_plugin_initialize().
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ typedef enum {
 	FU_PLUGIN_RULE_RUN_AFTER,
 	FU_PLUGIN_RULE_RUN_BEFORE,
 	FU_PLUGIN_RULE_REQUIRES_QUIRK,
+	FU_PLUGIN_RULE_BETTER_THAN,
 	/*< private >*/
 	FU_PLUGIN_RULE_LAST
 } FuPluginRule;
diff --git a/src/fu-self-test.c b/src/fu-self-test.c
index d2effc491..8fc4c58c4 100644
--- a/src/fu-self-test.c
+++ b/src/fu-self-test.c
@@ -186,6 +186,48 @@ fu_engine_requirements_device_func (void)
 	g_assert (ret);
 }
 
+static void
+fu_engine_device_priority_func (void)
+{
+	g_autoptr(FuDevice) device1 = fu_device_new ();
+	g_autoptr(FuDevice) device2 = fu_device_new ();
+	g_autoptr(FuDevice) device3 = fu_device_new ();
+	g_autoptr(FuDevice) device = NULL;
+	g_autoptr(FuEngine) engine = fu_engine_new (FU_APP_FLAGS_NONE);
+	g_autoptr(GError) error = NULL;
+
+	/* add low prio then high then low */
+	fu_device_set_id (device1, "id1");
+	fu_device_set_priority (device1, 0);
+	fu_device_set_plugin (device1, "udev");
+	fu_device_add_guid (device1, "GUID1");
+	fu_engine_add_device (engine, device1);
+	fu_device_set_id (device2, "id2");
+	fu_device_set_priority (device2, 1);
+	fu_device_set_plugin (device2, "redfish");
+	fu_device_add_guid (device2, "GUID1");
+	fu_engine_add_device (engine, device2);
+	fu_device_set_id (device3, "id3");
+	fu_device_set_priority (device3, 0);
+	fu_device_set_plugin (device3, "uefi");
+	fu_device_add_guid (device3, "GUID1");
+	fu_engine_add_device (engine, device3);
+
+	/* get the high prio device */
+	device = fu_engine_get_device (engine, "867d5f8110f8aa79dd63d7440f21724264f10430", &error);
+	g_assert_no_error (error);
+	g_assert_cmpint (fu_device_get_priority (device), ==, 1);
+
+	/* the now-removed low-prio device */
+	device = fu_engine_get_device (engine, "4e89d81a2e6fb4be2578d245fd8511c1f4ad0b58", &error);
+	g_assert_error (error, FWUPD_ERROR, FWUPD_ERROR_NOT_FOUND);
+	g_clear_error (&error);
+
+	/* the never-added 2nd low-prio device */
+	device = fu_engine_get_device (engine, "c48feddbbcfee514f530ce8f7f2dccd98b6cc150", &error);
+	g_assert_error (error, FWUPD_ERROR, FWUPD_ERROR_NOT_FOUND);
+}
+
 static void
 fu_engine_device_parent_func (void)
 {
@@ -2271,6 +2313,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	g_test_add_func ("/fwupd/engine{requirements-unsupported}", fu_engine_requirements_unsupported_func);
 	g_test_add_func ("/fwupd/engine{requirements-device}", fu_engine_requirements_device_func);
 	g_test_add_func ("/fwupd/engine{device-auto-parent}", fu_engine_device_parent_func);
+	g_test_add_func ("/fwupd/engine{device-priority}", fu_engine_device_priority_func);
 	g_test_add_func ("/fwupd/hwids", fu_hwids_func);
 	g_test_add_func ("/fwupd/smbios", fu_smbios_func);
 	g_test_add_func ("/fwupd/smbios3", fu_smbios3_func);