diff --git a/frontends/ast/ast.cc b/frontends/ast/ast.cc
index 412e04f6e..cc275959a 100644
--- a/frontends/ast/ast.cc
+++ b/frontends/ast/ast.cc
@@ -1091,6 +1091,84 @@ AstModule::~AstModule()
 		delete ast;
 }
 
+
+// An interface port with modport is specified like this:
+//    <interface_name>.<modport_name>
+// This function splits the interface_name from the modport_name, and fails if it is not a valid combination
+std::pair<std::string,std::string> AST::split_modport_from_type(std::string name_type)
+{
+	std::string interface_type = "";
+	std::string interface_modport = "";
+	size_t ndots = std::count(name_type.begin(), name_type.end(), '.');
+	// Separate the interface instance name from any modports:
+	if (ndots == 0) { // Does not have modport
+		interface_type = name_type;
+	}
+	else {
+		std::stringstream name_type_stream(name_type);
+		std::string segment;
+		std::vector<std::string> seglist;
+		while(std::getline(name_type_stream, segment, '.')) {
+			seglist.push_back(segment);
+		}
+		if (ndots == 1) { // Has modport
+			interface_type = seglist[0];
+			interface_modport = seglist[1];
+		}
+		else { // Erroneous port type
+			log_error("More than two '.' in signal port type (%s)\n", name_type.c_str());
+		}
+	}
+	return std::pair<std::string,std::string>(interface_type, interface_modport);
+
+}
+
+AstNode * AST::find_modport(AstNode *intf, std::string name)
+{
+	for (auto &ch : intf->children)
+		if (ch->type == AST_MODPORT)
+			if (ch->str == name) // Modport found
+				return ch;
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+// Iterate over all wires in an interface and add them as wires in the AST module:
+void AST::explode_interface_port(AstNode *module_ast, RTLIL::Module * intfmodule, std::string intfname, AstNode *modport)
+{
+	for (auto &wire_it : intfmodule->wires_){
+		AstNode *wire = new AstNode(AST_WIRE, new AstNode(AST_RANGE, AstNode::mkconst_int(wire_it.second->width -1, true), AstNode::mkconst_int(0, true)));
+		std::string origname = log_id(wire_it.first);
+		std::string newname = intfname + "." + origname;
+		wire->str = newname;
+		if (modport != NULL) {
+			bool found_in_modport = false;
+			// Search for the current wire in the wire list for the current modport
+			for (auto &ch : modport->children) {
+				if (ch->type == AST_MODPORTMEMBER) {
+					std::string compare_name = "\\" + origname;
+					if (ch->str == compare_name) { // Found signal. The modport decides whether it is input or output
+						found_in_modport = true;
+						wire->is_input = ch->is_input;
+						wire->is_output = ch->is_output;
+						break;
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			if (found_in_modport) {
+				module_ast->children.push_back(wire);
+			}
+			else { // If not found in modport, do not create port
+				delete wire;
+			}
+		}
+		else { // If no modport, set inout
+			wire->is_input = true;
+			wire->is_output = true;
+			module_ast->children.push_back(wire);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // When an interface instance is found in a module, the whole RTLIL for the module will be rederived again
 // from AST. The interface members are copied into the AST module with the prefix of the interface.
 void AstModule::reprocess_module(RTLIL::Design *design, dict<RTLIL::IdString, RTLIL::Module*> local_interfaces)
@@ -1111,102 +1189,47 @@ void AstModule::reprocess_module(RTLIL::Design *design, dict<RTLIL::IdString, RT
 
 	AstNode *ast_before_replacing_interface_ports = new_ast->clone();
 
-	// Explode all interface ports. Note this will only have any effect on top
-	// level modules. Other sub-modules will have their interface ports
-	// exploded in derive(..)
+	// Explode all interface ports. Note this will only have an effect on 'top
+	// level' modules. Other sub-modules will have their interface ports
+	// exploded via the derive(..) function
 	for (size_t i =0; i<new_ast->children.size(); i++)
 	{
 		AstNode *ch2 = new_ast->children[i];
-		std::string interface_type = "";
-		std::string interface_modport = "";
-		if (ch2->type == AST_INTERFACEPORT) {
-			std::string name_port = ch2->str;
+		if (ch2->type == AST_INTERFACEPORT) { // Is an interface port
+			std::string name_port = ch2->str; // Name of the interface port
 			if (ch2->children.size() > 0) {
 				for(size_t j=0; j<ch2->children.size();j++) {
 					AstNode *ch = ch2->children[j];
-					if(ch->type == AST_INTERFACEPORTTYPE) {
-						std::string name_type = ch->str;
-						size_t ndots = std::count(name_type.begin(), name_type.end(), '.');
-						// Separate the interface instance name from any modports:
-						if (ndots == 0) { // Does not have modport
-							interface_type = name_type;
-						}
-						else {
-							std::stringstream name_type_stream(name_type);
-							std::string segment;
-							std::vector<std::string> seglist;
-							while(std::getline(name_type_stream, segment, '.')) {
-								seglist.push_back(segment);
-							}
-							if (ndots == 1) { // Has modport
-								interface_type = seglist[0];
-								interface_modport = seglist[1];
-							}
-							else { // Erroneous port type
-								log_error("More than two '.' in signal port type (%s)\n", name_type.c_str());
-							}
-						}
+					if(ch->type == AST_INTERFACEPORTTYPE) { // Found the AST node containing the type of the interface
+						std::pair<std::string,std::string> res = split_modport_from_type(ch->str);
+						std::string interface_type = res.first;
+						std::string interface_modport = res.second; // Is "", if no modport
 						if (design->modules_.count(interface_type) > 0) {
+							// Add a cell to the module corresponding to the interface port such that
+							// it can further propagated down if needed:
 							AstNode *celltype_for_intf = new AstNode(AST_CELLTYPE);
 							celltype_for_intf->str = interface_type;
 							AstNode *cell_for_intf = new AstNode(AST_CELL, celltype_for_intf);
 							cell_for_intf->str = name_port + "_inst_from_top_dummy";
 							new_ast->children.push_back(cell_for_intf);
 
-							RTLIL::Module *intfmodule = design->modules_[interface_type];
+							// Get all members of this non-overridden dummy interface instance:
+							RTLIL::Module *intfmodule = design->modules_[interface_type]; // All interfaces should at this point in time (assuming
+							                                                              // reprocess_module is called from the hierarchy pass) be
+							                                                              // present in design->modules_
 							AstModule *ast_module_of_interface = (AstModule*)intfmodule;
-							AstNode *ast_node_of_interface = ast_module_of_interface->ast;
-							AstNode *modport = NULL;
 							std::string interface_modport_compare_str = "\\" + interface_modport;
-							for (auto &chm : ast_node_of_interface->children) {
-								if (chm->type == AST_MODPORT) {
-									if (chm->str == interface_modport_compare_str) { // Modport found
-										modport = chm;
-									}
-								}
-							}
-
-							std::string intfname = name_port;
-							for (auto &wire_it : intfmodule->wires_){
-								AstNode *wire = new AstNode(AST_WIRE, new AstNode(AST_RANGE, AstNode::mkconst_int(wire_it.second->width -1, true), AstNode::mkconst_int(0, true)));
-								std::string origname = log_id(wire_it.first);
-								std::string newname = intfname + "." + origname;
-								wire->str = newname;
-								if (modport != NULL) {
-									bool found_in_modport = false;
-									// Search for the current wire in the wire list for the current modport
-									for (auto &ch : modport->children) {
-										if (ch->type == AST_MODPORTMEMBER) {
-											std::string compare_name = "\\" + origname;
-											if (ch->str == compare_name) { // Found signal. The modport decides whether it is input or output
-												found_in_modport = true;
-												wire->is_input = ch->is_input;
-												wire->is_output = ch->is_output;
-												break;
-											}
-										}
-									}
-									if (found_in_modport) {
-										new_ast->children.push_back(wire);
-									}
-									else { // If not found in modport, do not create port
-										delete wire;
-									}
-								}
-								else { // If no modport, set inout
-									wire->is_input = true;
-									wire->is_output = true;
-									new_ast->children.push_back(wire);
-								}
-							}
+							AstNode *modport = find_modport(ast_module_of_interface->ast, interface_modport_compare_str); // modport == NULL if no modport
+							// Iterate over all wires in the interface and add them to the module:
+							explode_interface_port(new_ast, intfmodule, name_port, modport);
 						}
+						break;
 					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-
 	// The old module will be deleted. Rename and mark for deletion:
 	std::string original_name = this->name.str();
 	std::string changed_name = original_name + "_before_replacing_local_interfaces";
@@ -1267,47 +1290,10 @@ RTLIL::IdString AstModule::derive(RTLIL::Design *design, dict<RTLIL::IdString, R
 				std::string interface_modport = modports.at(intfname).str();
 				AstModule *ast_module_of_interface = (AstModule*)intfmodule;
 				AstNode *ast_node_of_interface = ast_module_of_interface->ast;
-				for (auto &ch : ast_node_of_interface->children) {
-					if (ch->type == AST_MODPORT) {
-						if (ch->str == interface_modport) { // Modport found
-							modport = ch;
-						}
-					}
-				}
+				modport = find_modport(ast_node_of_interface, interface_modport);
 			}
 			// Iterate over all wires in the interface and add them to the module:
-			for (auto &wire_it : intfmodule->wires_){
-				AstNode *wire = new AstNode(AST_WIRE, new AstNode(AST_RANGE, AstNode::mkconst_int(wire_it.second->width -1, true), AstNode::mkconst_int(0, true)));
-				std::string origname = log_id(wire_it.first);
-				std::string newname = intfname + "." + origname;
-				wire->str = newname;
-				if (modport != NULL) {
-					bool found_in_modport = false;
-					// Search for the current wire in the wire list for the current modport
-					for (auto &ch : modport->children) {
-						if (ch->type == AST_MODPORTMEMBER) {
-							std::string compare_name = "\\" + origname;
-							if (ch->str == compare_name) { // Found signal. The modport decides whether it is input or output
-								found_in_modport = true;
-								wire->is_input = ch->is_input;
-								wire->is_output = ch->is_output;
-								break;
-							}
-						}
-					}
-					if (found_in_modport) {
-						new_ast->children.push_back(wire);
-					}
-					else { // If not found in modport, do not create port
-						delete wire;
-					}
-				}
-				else { // If no modport, set inout
-					wire->is_input = true;
-					wire->is_output = true;
-					new_ast->children.push_back(wire);
-				}
-			}
+			explode_interface_port(new_ast, intfmodule, intfname, modport);
 		}
 
 		design->add(process_module(new_ast, false));
diff --git a/frontends/ast/ast.h b/frontends/ast/ast.h
index 8187b1ac6..08f91c9c3 100644
--- a/frontends/ast/ast.h
+++ b/frontends/ast/ast.h
@@ -308,6 +308,11 @@ namespace AST
 
 	// call a DPI function
 	AstNode *dpi_call(const std::string &rtype, const std::string &fname, const std::vector<std::string> &argtypes, const std::vector<AstNode*> &args);
+
+	// Helper functions related to handling SystemVerilog interfaces
+	std::pair<std::string,std::string> split_modport_from_type(std::string name_type);
+	AstNode * find_modport(AstNode *intf, std::string name);
+	void explode_interface_port(AstNode *module_ast, RTLIL::Module * intfmodule, std::string intfname, AstNode *modport);
 }
 
 namespace AST_INTERNAL
diff --git a/frontends/ast/genrtlil.cc b/frontends/ast/genrtlil.cc
index 32b9af6e9..8a6849faa 100644
--- a/frontends/ast/genrtlil.cc
+++ b/frontends/ast/genrtlil.cc
@@ -870,27 +870,10 @@ RTLIL::SigSpec AstNode::genRTLIL(int width_hint, bool sign_hint)
 		if (children.size() > 0) {
 			for(size_t i=0; i<children.size();i++) {
 				if(children[i]->type == AST_INTERFACEPORTTYPE) {
-					std::string name_type = children[i]->str;
-					size_t ndots = std::count(name_type.begin(), name_type.end(), '.');
-					// Separate the interface instance name from any modports:
-					if (ndots == 0) { // Does not have modport
-						wire->attributes["\\interface_type"] = name_type;
-					}
-					else {
-						std::stringstream name_type_stream(name_type);
-						std::string segment;
-						std::vector<std::string> seglist;
-						while(std::getline(name_type_stream, segment, '.')) {
-							seglist.push_back(segment);
-						}
-						if (ndots == 1) { // Has modport
-							wire->attributes["\\interface_type"] = seglist[0];
-							wire->attributes["\\interface_modport"] = seglist[1];
-						}
-						else { // Erroneous port type
-							log_error("More than two '.' in signal port type (%s)\n", name_type.c_str());
-						}
-					}
+					std::pair<std::string,std::string> res = AST::split_modport_from_type(children[i]->str);
+					wire->attributes["\\interface_type"] = res.first;
+					if (res.second != "")
+						wire->attributes["\\interface_modport"] = res.second;
 					break;
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/passes/hierarchy/hierarchy.cc b/passes/hierarchy/hierarchy.cc
index 9c7dad3d3..0c782b8ab 100644
--- a/passes/hierarchy/hierarchy.cc
+++ b/passes/hierarchy/hierarchy.cc
@@ -255,12 +255,15 @@ bool expand_module(RTLIL::Design *design, RTLIL::Module *module, bool flag_check
 					RTLIL::IdString interface_name = interface_name_str;
 					bool not_found_interface = false;
 					if(module->get_bool_attribute("\\interfaces_replaced_in_module")) { // If 'interfaces' in the cell have not be been handled yet, there is no need to derive the sub-module either
+						// Check if the interface instance is present in module:
+						// Interface instances may either have the plain name or the name appended with '_inst_from_top_dummy'.
+						// Check for both of them here
 						int nexactmatch = interfaces_in_module.count(interface_name) > 0;
 						std::string interface_name_str2 =  interface_name_str + "_inst_from_top_dummy";
 						RTLIL::IdString interface_name2 = interface_name_str2;
 						int nmatch2 = interfaces_in_module.count(interface_name2) > 0;
-						if (nexactmatch > 0 || nmatch2 > 0) { // Check if the interface instance is present in module
-							if (nexactmatch != 0)
+						if (nexactmatch > 0 || nmatch2 > 0) {
+							if (nexactmatch != 0) // Choose the one with the plain name if it exists
 								interface_name2 = interface_name;
 							RTLIL::Module *mod_replace_ports = interfaces_in_module.at(interface_name2);
 							for (auto &mod_wire : mod_replace_ports->wires_) { // Go over all wires in interface, and add replacements to lists.