diff --git a/neutron/api/v2/attributes.py b/neutron/api/v2/attributes.py
index 64a45e89105..6beb95b13a3 100644
--- a/neutron/api/v2/attributes.py
+++ b/neutron/api/v2/attributes.py
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ def convert_none_to_empty_dict(value):
 def convert_to_list(data):
     if data is None:
         return []
-    elif hasattr(data, '__iter__'):
+    elif hasattr(data, '__iter__') and not isinstance(data, six.string_types):
         return list(data)
     else:
         return [data]
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 37ddf17ccd0..39870fb3978 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ commands = python -m testtools.run \
     neutron.tests.unit.api.rpc.handlers.test_securitygroups_rpc \
     neutron.tests.unit.api.rpc.handlers.test_dvr_rpc \
     neutron.tests.unit.api.rpc.agentnotifiers.test_dhcp_rpc_agent_api \
+    neutron.tests.unit.api.v2.test_attributes \
     neutron.tests.unit.agent.metadata.test_driver \
     neutron.tests.unit.agent.test_rpc \
     neutron.tests.unit.agent.test_securitygroups_rpc \