controller of manually-recreated br-int is not automatically set after ODL restarts

SETUP:

ovs_version: "2.6.1"
ODL snapshot: distribution-karaf-0.6.2-20170803.213544-260
features installed: odl-netvirt-openstack

STEPS to reproduce:

1. start with a clean OVS
2. start a fresh ODL and install netvirt
3. set-manager of OVS to ODL
4. confirm that br-int is created and pipeline flows are correctly installed
5. stop ODL
6. manually delete br-int
7. manually create br-int (without setting its controller)
014bd065-2822-4ab4-bfc5-4327a5646a81
Manager "tcp:192.168.254.33:6640"
Bridge br-int
Port br-int
Interface br-int
type: internal
ovs_version: "2.6.1"
8. restart ODL
9. br-int remains without its controller set
014bd065-2822-4ab4-bfc5-4327a5646a81
Manager "tcp:192.168.254.33:6640"
is_connected: true
Bridge br-int
Port br-int
Interface br-int
type: internal
ovs_version: "2.6.1"

workaround
10. if after step 9., the controller for br-int is manually set to ODL, pipeline flows are pushed correctly
e.g. [odl@odl32 ~]$ sudo ovs-vsctl set-controller br-int tcp:192.168.254.33:6653