diff --git a/vif_plug_ovs/linux_net.py b/vif_plug_ovs/linux_net.py
index 999e486b..4039b741 100644
--- a/vif_plug_ovs/linux_net.py
+++ b/vif_plug_ovs/linux_net.py
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@ LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 VIRTFN_RE = re.compile("virtfn(\d+)")
 
+# phys_port_name only contains the VF number
+INT_RE = re.compile("^(\d+)$")
+# phys_port_name contains VF## or vf##
+VF_RE = re.compile("vf(\d+)", re.IGNORECASE)
+# phys_port_name contains PF## or pf##
+PF_RE = re.compile("pf(\d+)", re.IGNORECASE)
+
 
 def _ovs_vsctl(args, timeout=None):
     full_args = ['ovs-vsctl']
@@ -225,6 +232,35 @@ def _ovs_supports_mtu_requests(timeout=None):
     return True
 
 
+def _parse_vf_number(phys_port_name):
+    """Parses phys_port_name and returns VF number or None.
+
+    To determine the VF number of a representor, parse phys_port_name
+    in the following sequence and return the first valid match. If none
+    match, then the representor is not for a VF.
+    """
+    match = INT_RE.search(phys_port_name)
+    if match:
+        return match.group(1)
+    match = VF_RE.search(phys_port_name)
+    if match:
+        return match.group(1)
+    return None
+
+
+def _parse_pf_number(phys_port_name):
+    """Parses phys_port_name and returns PF number or None.
+
+    To determine the PF number of a representor, parse phys_port_name in
+    the following sequence and return the first valid match. If none
+    match, then the representor is not for a PF.
+    """
+    match = PF_RE.search(phys_port_name)
+    if match:
+        return match.group(1)
+    return None
+
+
 def get_representor_port(pf_ifname, vf_num):
     """Get the representor netdevice which is corresponding to the VF.
 
@@ -271,10 +307,16 @@ def get_representor_port(pf_ifname, vf_num):
 
         try:
             with open(device_port_name_file, 'r') as fd:
-                representor_num = fd.readline().rstrip()
+                phys_port_name = fd.readline().rstrip()
         except (OSError, IOError):
             continue
 
+        representor_num = _parse_vf_number(phys_port_name)
+        # Note: representor_num can be 0, referring to VF0
+        if representor_num is None:
+            continue
+
+        # At this point we're confident we have a representor.
         try:
             if int(representor_num) == int(vf_num):
                 return device
diff --git a/vif_plug_ovs/tests/unit/test_linux_net.py b/vif_plug_ovs/tests/unit/test_linux_net.py
index 0ac142e4..0cf1002e 100644
--- a/vif_plug_ovs/tests/unit/test_linux_net.py
+++ b/vif_plug_ovs/tests/unit/test_linux_net.py
@@ -358,6 +358,22 @@ class LinuxNetTest(testtools.TestCase):
         mock_open.assert_has_calls(open_calls)
         self.assertEqual(test_switchdev, True)
 
+    def test_parse_vf_number(self):
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_vf_number("0"), "0")
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_vf_number("pf13vf42"), "42")
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_vf_number("VF19@PF13"), "19")
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_vf_number("p7"), None)
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_vf_number("pf31"), None)
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_vf_number("g4rbl3d"), None)
+
+    def test_parse_pf_number(self):
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_pf_number("0"), None)
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_pf_number("pf13vf42"), "13")
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_pf_number("VF19@PF13"), "13")
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_pf_number("p7"), None)
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_pf_number("pf31"), "31")
+        self.assertEqual(linux_net._parse_pf_number("g4rbl3d"), None)
+
     @mock.patch('six.moves.builtins.open')
     @mock.patch.object(os.path, 'isfile')
     @mock.patch.object(os, 'listdir')
@@ -369,7 +385,7 @@ class LinuxNetTest(testtools.TestCase):
         mock_open.return_value.__enter__ = lambda s: s
         readline_mock = mock_open.return_value.readline
         readline_mock.side_effect = (
-            ['pf_sw_id', 'pf_sw_id', '1', 'pf_sw_id', '2'])
+            ['pf_sw_id', 'pf_sw_id', '1', 'pf_sw_id', 'pf0vf2'])
         open_calls = (
             [mock.call('/sys/class/net/pf_ifname/phys_switch_id', 'r'),
              mock.call().readline(),