diff --git a/module_utils/network_lsr/argument_validator.py b/module_utils/network_lsr/argument_validator.py
index 2eb37e6..98b584a 100644
--- a/module_utils/network_lsr/argument_validator.py
+++ b/module_utils/network_lsr/argument_validator.py
@@ -610,8 +610,8 @@ class ArgValidator_DictMacvlan(ArgValidatorDict):
 
 class ArgValidator_DictConnection(ArgValidatorDict):
 
-    VALID_STATES = ["up", "down"]
     VALID_PERSISTENT_STATES = ["absent", "present"]
+    VALID_STATES = VALID_PERSISTENT_STATES + ["up", "down"]
     VALID_TYPES = [
         "ethernet",
         "infiniband",
@@ -701,7 +701,14 @@ class ArgValidator_DictConnection(ArgValidatorDict):
         """
         actions = []
         state = result.get("state")
-        persistent_state = result.get("persistent_state")
+        if state in self.VALID_PERSISTENT_STATES:
+            del result["state"]
+            persistent_state_default = state
+            state = None
+        else:
+            persistent_state_default = None
+
+        persistent_state = result.get("persistent_state", persistent_state_default)
 
         # default persistent_state to present (not done via default_value in the
         # ArgValidatorStr, the value will only be set at the end of
diff --git a/tests/test_network_connections.py b/tests/test_network_connections.py
index 1d0338e..c4bc384 100755
--- a/tests/test_network_connections.py
+++ b/tests/test_network_connections.py
@@ -1908,6 +1908,24 @@ class TestValidator(unittest.TestCase):
             {"actions": ["present"], "persistent_state": "present", "state": None},
         )
 
+    def test_invalid_persistent_state_up(self):
+        network_connections = [{"name": "internal", "persistent_state": "up"}]
+        self.assertRaises(
+            n.ValidationError, ARGS_CONNECTIONS.validate, network_connections
+        )
+
+    def test_invalid_persistent_state_down(self):
+        network_connections = [{"name": "internal", "persistent_state": "down"}]
+        self.assertRaises(
+            n.ValidationError, ARGS_CONNECTIONS.validate, network_connections
+        )
+
+    def test_invalid_state_test(self):
+        network_connections = [{"name": "internal", "state": "test"}]
+        self.assertRaises(
+            n.ValidationError, ARGS_CONNECTIONS.validate, network_connections
+        )
+
     def test_default_states_type(self):
         self.check_partial_connection_zero(
             {"name": "eth0", "type": "ethernet"},
@@ -1920,6 +1938,18 @@ class TestValidator(unittest.TestCase):
             {"actions": ["present"], "persistent_state": "present", "state": None},
         )
 
+    def test_state_present(self):
+        self.check_partial_connection_zero(
+            {"name": "eth0", "state": "present", "type": "ethernet"},
+            {"actions": ["present"], "persistent_state": "present", "state": None},
+        )
+
+    def test_state_absent(self):
+        self.check_partial_connection_zero(
+            {"name": "eth0", "state": "absent"},
+            {"actions": ["absent"], "persistent_state": "absent", "state": None},
+        )
+
     def test_persistent_state_absent(self):
         self.check_partial_connection_zero(
             {"name": "eth0", "persistent_state": "absent"},