ofproto_set_probe_interval(br->ofproto,
                 probe ? probe : cfg_get_int(0, "mgmt.inactivity-probe"));
 
-        max_backoff = cfg_get_int(0, "%s.max-backoff", pfx);      
-        ofproto_set_max_backoff(br->ofproto,
-                max_backoff ? max_backoff : cfg_get_int(0, "mgmt.max-backoff"));
+        max_backoff = cfg_get_int(0, "%s.max-backoff", pfx);
+        if (!max_backoff) {
+            max_backoff = cfg_get_int(0, "mgmt.max-backoff");
+            if (!max_backoff) {
+                max_backoff = 15;
+            }
+        }
+        ofproto_set_max_backoff(br->ofproto, max_backoff);
 
         ofproto_set_stp(br->ofproto, cfg_get_bool(0, "%s.stp", pfx));