diff --git a/libnetwork/drivers/macvlan/macvlan_network.go b/libnetwork/drivers/macvlan/macvlan_network.go
index beeed41638..8c515bb2f4 100644
--- a/libnetwork/drivers/macvlan/macvlan_network.go
+++ b/libnetwork/drivers/macvlan/macvlan_network.go
@@ -186,10 +186,12 @@ func parseNetworkOptions(id string, option options.Generic) (*configuration, err
 		}
 	}
 	// setting the parent to "" will trigger an isolated network dummy parent link
-	if _, ok := option[netlabel.Internal]; ok {
-		config.Internal = true
-		// empty --parent= and --internal are handled the same.
-		config.Parent = ""
+	if val, ok := option[netlabel.Internal]; ok {
+		if internal, ok := val.(bool); ok && internal {
+			config.Internal = true
+			// empty --parent= and --internal are handled the same.
+			config.Parent = ""
+		}
 	}
 
 	return config, nil