diff --git a/lib/if.c b/lib/if.c
index 0cfd591160..a803754375 100644
--- a/lib/if.c
+++ b/lib/if.c
@@ -177,6 +177,8 @@ void if_update_to_new_vrf(struct interface *ifp, vrf_id_t vrf_id)
 	if (ifp->ifindex != IFINDEX_INTERNAL)
 		IFINDEX_RB_INSERT(vrf, ifp);
 
+	if (!old_vrf->name)
+		return;
 	/*
 	 * HACK: Change the interface VRF in the running configuration directly,
 	 * bypassing the northbound layer. This is necessary to avoid deleting
diff --git a/lib/vrf.c b/lib/vrf.c
index 229f19f29a..862a3da067 100644
--- a/lib/vrf.c
+++ b/lib/vrf.c
@@ -176,6 +176,24 @@ struct vrf *vrf_get(vrf_id_t vrf_id, const char *name)
 			   name, vrf_id, vrf->vrf_id);
 		return NULL;
 	}
+	/* look for duplicates. case is followine one:
+	 * - a vrf is configured per name -> vrfA
+	 * - netlink discovery creates a vrf with vrf_id ->vrfB
+	 * - then, netlink discovers vrf, and associated vrf_id and name
+	 * -> so vrfA and vrfB must be merged
+	 */
+	if (vrf && vrf_id != VRF_UNKNOWN
+	    && vrf->vrf_id == VRF_UNKNOWN) {
+		struct vrf *vrf2 = vrf_lookup_by_id(vrf_id);
+		struct interface *ifp;
+
+		if (vrf2 && !vrf2->name && vrf2 != vrf) {
+			/* move vrf2 context to vrf */
+			FOR_ALL_INTERFACES (vrf2, ifp)
+				if_update_to_new_vrf(ifp, vrf);
+			vrf_delete(vrf2);
+		}
+	}
 	/* Try to find VRF both by ID and name */
 	if (!vrf && vrf_id != VRF_UNKNOWN)
 		vrf = vrf_lookup_by_id(vrf_id);
diff --git a/zebra/if_netlink.c b/zebra/if_netlink.c
index 4b998bcdc4..2c94dd52b5 100644
--- a/zebra/if_netlink.c
+++ b/zebra/if_netlink.c
@@ -665,6 +665,8 @@ static int netlink_interface(struct nlmsghdr *h, ns_id_t ns_id, int startup)
 		    && !vrf_is_backend_netns()) {
 			zif_slave_type = ZEBRA_IF_SLAVE_VRF;
 			vrf_id = *(uint32_t *)RTA_DATA(tb[IFLA_MASTER]);
+			/* vrf can be needed before vrf netlink discovery */
+			vrf_get(vrf_id, NULL);
 		} else if (slave_kind && (strcmp(slave_kind, "bridge") == 0)) {
 			zif_slave_type = ZEBRA_IF_SLAVE_BRIDGE;
 			bridge_ifindex =
@@ -677,9 +679,7 @@ static int netlink_interface(struct nlmsghdr *h, ns_id_t ns_id, int startup)
 	}
 	if (vrf_is_backend_netns())
 		vrf_id = (vrf_id_t)ns_id;
-
 	vrf = vrf_lookup_by_id(vrf_id);
-
 	/* If linking to another interface, note it. */
 	if (tb[IFLA_LINK])
 		link_ifindex = *(ifindex_t *)RTA_DATA(tb[IFLA_LINK]);