diff --git a/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java b/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java
index 5eb42e7d91658..eeaeadc948875 100644
--- a/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java
+++ b/services/java/com/android/server/ConnectivityService.java
@@ -697,7 +697,8 @@ public class ConnectivityService extends IConnectivityManager.Stub {
                 usedNetworkType = ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE_MMS;
             } else if (TextUtils.equals(feature, Phone.FEATURE_ENABLE_SUPL)) {
                 usedNetworkType = ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE_SUPL;
-            } else if (TextUtils.equals(feature, Phone.FEATURE_ENABLE_DUN)) {
+            } else if (TextUtils.equals(feature, Phone.FEATURE_ENABLE_DUN) ||
+                    TextUtils.equals(feature, Phone.FEATURE_ENABLE_DUN_ALWAYS)) {
                 usedNetworkType = ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE_DUN;
             } else if (TextUtils.equals(feature, Phone.FEATURE_ENABLE_HIPRI)) {
                 usedNetworkType = ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE_HIPRI;
@@ -712,7 +713,11 @@ public class ConnectivityService extends IConnectivityManager.Stub {
 
                 if (ni.isAvailable() == false) {
                     if (DBG) log("special network not available");
-                    return Phone.APN_TYPE_NOT_AVAILABLE;
+                    if (!TextUtils.equals(feature,Phone.FEATURE_ENABLE_DUN_ALWAYS)) {
+                        return Phone.APN_TYPE_NOT_AVAILABLE;
+                    } else {
+                        // else make the attempt anyway - probably giving REQUEST_STARTED below
+                    }
                 }
 
                 synchronized(this) {
diff --git a/services/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java b/services/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java
index a562e1fd7085a..fc1b2c45e31c0 100644
--- a/services/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java
+++ b/services/java/com/android/server/connectivity/Tethering.java
@@ -1138,8 +1138,8 @@ public class Tethering extends INetworkManagementEventObserver.Stub {
                 int result = Phone.APN_REQUEST_FAILED;
                 try {
                     result = service.startUsingNetworkFeature(ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE,
-                            (mDunRequired ? Phone.FEATURE_ENABLE_DUN : Phone.FEATURE_ENABLE_HIPRI),
-                            new Binder());
+                            (mDunRequired ? Phone.FEATURE_ENABLE_DUN_ALWAYS :
+                            Phone.FEATURE_ENABLE_HIPRI), new Binder());
                 } catch (Exception e) {
                 }
                 switch (result) {
diff --git a/telephony/java/com/android/internal/telephony/Phone.java b/telephony/java/com/android/internal/telephony/Phone.java
index 25ad48da47de6..d0b5540f494d9 100644
--- a/telephony/java/com/android/internal/telephony/Phone.java
+++ b/telephony/java/com/android/internal/telephony/Phone.java
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ public interface Phone {
     static final String FEATURE_ENABLE_SUPL = "enableSUPL";
     static final String FEATURE_ENABLE_DUN = "enableDUN";
     static final String FEATURE_ENABLE_HIPRI = "enableHIPRI";
+    static final String FEATURE_ENABLE_DUN_ALWAYS = "enableDUNAlways";
 
     /**
      * Return codes for <code>enableApnType()</code>