--- cloudinit/net/network_manager.py.orig
+++ cloudinit/net/network_manager.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 import configparser
 import io
 import itertools
-import os
 import uuid
 from typing import Optional
 
@@ -401,7 +400,6 @@ def available(target=None):
     # It is imported here to avoid circular import
     from cloudinit.distros import uses_systemd
 
-    config_present = os.path.isfile(subp.target_path(target, path=NM_CFG_FILE))
     nmcli_present = subp.which("nmcli", target=target)
     service_active = True
     if uses_systemd():
@@ -410,7 +408,7 @@ def available(target=None):
         except subp.ProcessExecutionError:
             service_active = False
 
-    return config_present and bool(nmcli_present) and service_active
+    return bool(nmcli_present) and service_active
 
 
 # vi: ts=4 expandtab