diff --git a/ofproto/ofproto-dpif.c b/ofproto/ofproto-dpif.c
index 1ed82d0..b95096a 100644
--- a/ofproto/ofproto-dpif.c
+++ b/ofproto/ofproto-dpif.c
@@ -236,11 +236,25 @@ ofproto_dpif_send_async_msg(struct ofproto_dpif *ofproto,
     /* Wakes up main thread for packet-in I/O. */
     seq_change(ofproto->ams_seq);
 }
-
+
+static char *dpif_backer_prefix; 
+static void dpif_backer_set_prefix(const char *prefix)
+{
+    if (!prefix)
+        return;
+
+    dpif_backer_prefix = xstrdup(prefix);
+}
+
+static char *dpif_backer_get_prefix(void)
+{
+    return dpif_backer_prefix;
+}
+
 /* Factory functions. */
 
 static void
-init(const struct shash *iface_hints)
+init(const struct shash *iface_hints, const char *prefix)
 {
     struct shash_node *node;
 
@@ -259,6 +273,8 @@ init(const struct shash *iface_hints)
     ofproto_unixctl_init();
     ofproto_dpif_trace_init();
     udpif_init();
+
+    dpif_backer_set_prefix(prefix);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -706,6 +722,7 @@ open_dpif_backer(const char *type, struct dpif_backer **backerp)
 
     struct sset names;
     char *backer_name;
+    char *backer_prefix;
     const char *name;
     int error;
 
@@ -716,7 +733,13 @@ open_dpif_backer(const char *type, struct dpif_backer **backerp)
         return 0;
     }
 
-    backer_name = xasprintf("ovs-%s", type);
+    backer_prefix = dpif_backer_get_prefix();
+
+    if (backer_prefix) {
+        backer_name = xasprintf("ovs-%s-%s", backer_prefix, type);
+    } else {
+        backer_name = xasprintf("ovs-%s", type);
+    }
 
     /* Remove any existing datapaths, since we assume we're the only
      * userspace controlling the datapath. */
diff --git a/ofproto/ofproto-provider.h b/ofproto/ofproto-provider.h
index d636fb3..937cdac 100644
--- a/ofproto/ofproto-provider.h
+++ b/ofproto/ofproto-provider.h
@@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ struct ofproto_class {
      * make copies of anything required.  An ofproto provider must
      * remove any existing state that is not described by the hint, and
      * may choose to remove it all. */
-    void (*init)(const struct shash *iface_hints);
+    void (*init)(const struct shash *iface_hints, const char *prefix);
 
     /* Enumerates the types of all supported ofproto types into 'types'.  The
      * caller has already initialized 'types'.  The implementation should add
diff --git a/ofproto/ofproto.c b/ofproto/ofproto.c
index 36f4c0b..bcb9c4c 100644
--- a/ofproto/ofproto.c
+++ b/ofproto/ofproto.c
@@ -328,9 +328,11 @@ static bool flow_restore_wait = true;
  * will remove any existing state that is not described by the hint, and
  * may choose to remove it all. */
 void
-ofproto_init(const struct shash *iface_hints)
+ofproto_init(const struct shash *iface_hints,
+             const struct smap *ovs_other_config)
 {
     struct shash_node *node;
+    const char *prefix = NULL;
     size_t i;
 
     ofproto_class_register(&ofproto_dpif_class);
@@ -348,8 +350,10 @@ ofproto_init(const struct shash *iface_hints)
         shash_add(&init_ofp_ports, node->name, new_hint);
     }
 
+    prefix = smap_get(ovs_other_config, "backend-prefix");
+
     for (i = 0; i < n_ofproto_classes; i++) {
-        ofproto_classes[i]->init(&init_ofp_ports);
+        ofproto_classes[i]->init(&init_ofp_ports, prefix);
     }
 
     ofproto_unixctl_init();
diff --git a/ofproto/ofproto.h b/ofproto/ofproto.h
index 8c85bbf..4e1305c 100644
--- a/ofproto/ofproto.h
+++ b/ofproto/ofproto.h
@@ -235,7 +235,8 @@ struct iface_hint {
     ofp_port_t ofp_port;        /* OpenFlow port number. */
 };
 
-void ofproto_init(const struct shash *iface_hints);
+void ofproto_init(const struct shash *iface_hints,
+		  const struct smap *ovs_other_config);
 
 int ofproto_type_run(const char *datapath_type);
 void ofproto_type_wait(const char *datapath_type);
diff --git a/vswitchd/bridge.c b/vswitchd/bridge.c
index d90997e..50c278f 100644
--- a/vswitchd/bridge.c
+++ b/vswitchd/bridge.c
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ bridge_init_ofproto(const struct ovsrec_open_vswitch *cfg)
         }
     }
 
-    ofproto_init(&iface_hints);
+    ofproto_init(&iface_hints, &cfg->other_config);
 
     shash_destroy_free_data(&iface_hints);
     initialized = true;
