diff --git a/tests/topotests/lib/topogen.py b/tests/topotests/lib/topogen.py
index 2d6138990ef8..0e685a97b060 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/lib/topogen.py
+++ b/tests/topotests/lib/topogen.py
@@ -798,23 +798,23 @@ def load_frr_config(self, source, daemons=None):
         Start the daemons in the list
         If daemons is None, try to infer daemons from the config file
         """
-        self.load_config(self.RD_FRR, source)
+        source_path = self.load_config(self.RD_FRR, source)
         if not daemons:
             # Always add zebra
-            self.load_config(self.RD_ZEBRA)
+            self.load_config(self.RD_ZEBRA, "")
             for daemon in self.RD:
                 # This will not work for all daemons
                 daemonstr = self.RD.get(daemon).rstrip("d")
                 if daemonstr == "pim":
-                    grep_cmd = "grep 'ip {}' {}".format(daemonstr, source)
+                    grep_cmd = "grep 'ip {}' {}".format(daemonstr, source_path)
                 else:
-                    grep_cmd = "grep 'router {}' {}".format(daemonstr, source)
+                    grep_cmd = "grep 'router {}' {}".format(daemonstr, source_path)
                 result = self.run(grep_cmd, warn=False).strip()
                 if result:
-                    self.load_config(daemon)
+                    self.load_config(daemon, "")
         else:
             for daemon in daemons:
-                self.load_config(daemon)
+                self.load_config(daemon, "")
 
     def load_config(self, daemon, source=None, param=None):
         """Loads daemon configuration from the specified source
@@ -833,7 +833,7 @@ def load_config(self, daemon, source=None, param=None):
         """
         daemonstr = self.RD.get(daemon)
         self.logger.debug('loading "{}" configuration: {}'.format(daemonstr, source))
-        self.net.loadConf(daemonstr, source, param)
+        return self.net.loadConf(daemonstr, source, param)
 
     def check_router_running(self):
         """
diff --git a/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py b/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py
index 9cfeb8e1decb..d1475a5e261e 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py
+++ b/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py
@@ -1527,9 +1527,11 @@ def loadConf(self, daemon, source=None, param=None):
         """
 
         # Unfortunately this API allowsfor source to not exist for any and all routers.
-        if source is None:
+        source_was_none = source is None
+        if source_was_none:
             source = f"{daemon}.conf"
 
+        # "" to avoid loading a default config which is present in router dir
         if source:
             head, tail = os.path.split(source)
             if not head and not self.path_exists(tail):
@@ -1550,18 +1552,40 @@ def loadConf(self, daemon, source=None, param=None):
             if param is not None:
                 self.daemons_options[daemon] = param
             conf_file = "/etc/{}/{}.conf".format(self.routertype, daemon)
-            if source is None or not os.path.exists(source):
+            if source and not os.path.exists(source):
+                logger.warn(
+                    "missing config '%s' for '%s' creating empty file '%s'",
+                    self.name,
+                    source,
+                    conf_file,
+                )
                 if daemon == "frr" or not self.unified_config:
                     self.cmd_raises("rm -f " + conf_file)
                     self.cmd_raises("touch " + conf_file)
-            else:
+                    self.cmd_raises(
+                        "chown {0}:{0} {1}".format(self.routertype, conf_file)
+                    )
+                    self.cmd_raises("chmod 664 {}".format(conf_file))
+            elif source:
                 # copy zebra.conf to mgmtd folder, which can be used during startup
-                if daemon == "zebra":
+                if daemon == "zebra" and not self.unified_config:
                     conf_file_mgmt = "/etc/{}/{}.conf".format(self.routertype, "mgmtd")
+                    logger.debug(
+                        "copying '%s' as '%s' on '%s'",
+                        source,
+                        conf_file_mgmt,
+                        self.name,
+                    )
                     self.cmd_raises("cp {} {}".format(source, conf_file_mgmt))
-                self.cmd_raises("cp {} {}".format(source, conf_file))
+                    self.cmd_raises(
+                        "chown {0}:{0} {1}".format(self.routertype, conf_file_mgmt)
+                    )
+                    self.cmd_raises("chmod 664 {}".format(conf_file_mgmt))
 
-            if not (self.unified_config or daemon == "frr"):
+                logger.debug(
+                    "copying '%s' as '%s' on '%s'", source, conf_file, self.name
+                )
+                self.cmd_raises("cp {} {}".format(source, conf_file))
                 self.cmd_raises("chown {0}:{0} {1}".format(self.routertype, conf_file))
                 self.cmd_raises("chmod 664 {}".format(conf_file))
 
@@ -1588,7 +1612,8 @@ def loadConf(self, daemon, source=None, param=None):
 
         else:
             logger.warning("No daemon {} known".format(daemon))
-        # print "Daemons after:", self.daemons
+
+        return source if os.path.exists(source) else ""
 
     def runInWindow(self, cmd, title=None):
         return self.run_in_window(cmd, title)