diff --git a/neutron/values.yaml b/neutron/values.yaml
index a80116e282..199e405ab8 100644
--- a/neutron/values.yaml
+++ b/neutron/values.yaml
@@ -2115,6 +2115,7 @@ conf:
         max_header_size: 38
       agent:
         extensions: ""
+      ovn: {}
     ml2_conf_sriov: null
     taas:
       taas:
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/neutron-fca28403d7a0be3a.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/neutron-fca28403d7a0be3a.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4283c7758a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/neutron-fca28403d7a0be3a.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+neutron:
+  - |
+    When enabling the OVN backend, don't fail to start with the default
+    connection setup to OVN NB and SB. A feature change was made allowing users
+    to override these connections but it did not preserve the default.
+...