diff --git a/neutron_lib/api/validators/__init__.py b/neutron_lib/api/validators/__init__.py
index e1bcd57..fabc21d 100644
--- a/neutron_lib/api/validators/__init__.py
+++ b/neutron_lib/api/validators/__init__.py
@@ -925,10 +925,7 @@ def validate_port_range_or_none(data, valid_values=None):
     """
     if data is None:
         return
-    if validate_string_or_none(data):
-        msg = _("Port range must be a string.")
-        LOG.debug(msg)
-        return msg
+    data = str(data)
     ports = data.split(':')
     if len(ports) > 2:
         msg = _("Port range must be two integers separated by a colon.")
diff --git a/neutron_lib/tests/unit/api/validators/test_validators.py b/neutron_lib/tests/unit/api/validators/test_validators.py
index ea73f03..a5e1d5d 100644
--- a/neutron_lib/tests/unit/api/validators/test_validators.py
+++ b/neutron_lib/tests/unit/api/validators/test_validators.py
@@ -1102,6 +1102,10 @@ class TestPortRangeValidation(base.BaseTestCase):
         result = validators.validate_port_range_or_none("80")
         self.assertIsNone(result)
 
+    def test_valid_port_integer(self):
+        result = validators.validate_port_range_or_none(80)
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+
     def test_valid_range(self):
         result = validators.validate_port_range_or_none("80:8888")
         self.assertIsNone(result)
@@ -1133,7 +1137,7 @@ class TestPortRangeValidation(base.BaseTestCase):
 
     def test_range_bad_input(self):
         result = validators.validate_port_range_or_none(['a', 'b', 'c'])
-        self.assertEqual(u"Port range must be a string.", result)
+        self.assertEqual(u"Invalid port: ['a', 'b', 'c'].", result)
 
     def test_range_colon(self):
         result = validators.validate_port_range_or_none(":")