diff --git a/neutron/cmd/eventlet/server/__init__.py b/neutron/cmd/eventlet/server/__init__.py
index 01c3b52c1ec..f88d5ec92bb 100644
--- a/neutron/cmd/eventlet/server/__init__.py
+++ b/neutron/cmd/eventlet/server/__init__.py
@@ -10,14 +10,20 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
+from neutron.server import rpc_eventlet
 from neutron.server import wsgi_eventlet
 from neutron.server import wsgi_pecan
 
 
 def main_wsgi_eventlet():
-    # This also starts the RPC server
     wsgi_eventlet.main()
 
 
+# Eventlet patching is not required for Pecan, but some plugins still spawn
+# eventlet threads
 def main_wsgi_pecan():
     wsgi_pecan.main()
+
+
+def main_rpc_eventlet():
+    rpc_eventlet.main()
diff --git a/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py b/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
index d5bcd550a7e..a4792bfcd56 100644
--- a/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
+++ b/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
@@ -146,17 +146,12 @@ class Ml2Plugin(db_base_plugin_v2.NeutronDbPluginV2,
         self.type_manager.initialize()
         self.extension_manager.initialize()
         self.mechanism_manager.initialize()
-
-        self._setup_rpc()
         self._setup_dhcp()
+        self._start_rpc_notifiers()
         LOG.info(_LI("Modular L2 Plugin initialization complete"))
 
     def _setup_rpc(self):
         """Initialize components to support agent communication."""
-        self.notifier = rpc.AgentNotifierApi(topics.AGENT)
-        self.agent_notifiers[const.AGENT_TYPE_DHCP] = (
-            dhcp_rpc_agent_api.DhcpAgentNotifyAPI()
-        )
         self.endpoints = [
             rpc.RpcCallbacks(self.notifier, self.type_manager),
             securitygroups_rpc.SecurityGroupServerRpcCallback(),
@@ -178,9 +173,18 @@ class Ml2Plugin(db_base_plugin_v2.NeutronDbPluginV2,
     def supported_qos_rule_types(self):
         return self.mechanism_manager.supported_qos_rule_types
 
+    @log_helpers.log_method_call
+    def _start_rpc_notifiers(self):
+        """Initialize RPC notifiers for agents."""
+        self.notifier = rpc.AgentNotifierApi(topics.AGENT)
+        self.agent_notifiers[const.AGENT_TYPE_DHCP] = (
+            dhcp_rpc_agent_api.DhcpAgentNotifyAPI()
+        )
+
     @log_helpers.log_method_call
     def start_rpc_listeners(self):
         """Start the RPC loop to let the plugin communicate with agents."""
+        self._setup_rpc()
         self.topic = topics.PLUGIN
         self.conn = n_rpc.create_connection(new=True)
         self.conn.create_consumer(self.topic, self.endpoints, fanout=False)
diff --git a/neutron/server/rpc_eventlet.py b/neutron/server/rpc_eventlet.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..218d009e0d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/neutron/server/rpc_eventlet.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+# Copyright 2011 VMware, Inc.
+# All Rights Reserved.
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+# If ../neutron/__init__.py exists, add ../ to Python search path, so that
+# it will override what happens to be installed in /usr/(local/)lib/python...
+
+import eventlet
+from oslo_log import log
+
+from neutron.i18n import _LI
+from neutron import server
+from neutron import service
+
+LOG = log.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def _eventlet_rpc_server():
+    pool = eventlet.GreenPool()
+    LOG.info(_LI("Eventlet based AMQP RPC server starting..."))
+    try:
+        neutron_rpc = service.serve_rpc()
+    except NotImplementedError:
+        LOG.info(_LI("RPC was already started in parent process by "
+                     "plugin."))
+    else:
+        pool.spawn(neutron_rpc.wait)
+    pool.waitall()
+
+
+def main():
+    server.boot_server(_eventlet_rpc_server)
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 87480ad1123..69f554df99d 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ console_scripts =
     neutron-restproxy-agent = neutron.plugins.bigswitch.agent.restproxy_agent:main
     neutron-server = neutron.cmd.eventlet.server:main_wsgi_eventlet
     neutron-dev-server = neutron.cmd.eventlet.server:main_wsgi_pecan
+    neutron-rpc-server = neutron.cmd.eventlet.server:main_rpc_eventlet
     neutron-rootwrap = oslo_rootwrap.cmd:main
     neutron-rootwrap-daemon = oslo_rootwrap.cmd:daemon
     neutron-usage-audit = neutron.cmd.usage_audit:main