diff --git a/neutron/plugins/ml2/drivers/openvswitch/agent/ovs_dvr_neutron_agent.py b/neutron/plugins/ml2/drivers/openvswitch/agent/ovs_dvr_neutron_agent.py
index ec805bf0bdc..c2b823d94dd 100644
--- a/neutron/plugins/ml2/drivers/openvswitch/agent/ovs_dvr_neutron_agent.py
+++ b/neutron/plugins/ml2/drivers/openvswitch/agent/ovs_dvr_neutron_agent.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
+from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log as logging
 import oslo_messaging
 from oslo_utils import excutils
@@ -25,6 +26,9 @@ from neutron.plugins.ml2.drivers.openvswitch.agent.common import constants
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+cfg.CONF.import_group('AGENT', 'neutron.plugins.ml2.drivers.openvswitch.'
+                      'agent.common.config')
+
 
 # A class to represent a DVR-hosted subnet including vif_ports resident on
 # that subnet
@@ -134,6 +138,7 @@ class OVSDVRNeutronAgent(object):
         self.dvr_mac_address = None
         if self.enable_distributed_routing:
             self.get_dvr_mac_address()
+        self.conf = cfg.CONF
 
     def setup_dvr_flows(self):
         self.setup_dvr_flows_on_integ_br()
@@ -205,7 +210,8 @@ class OVSDVRNeutronAgent(object):
         LOG.info(_LI("L2 Agent operating in DVR Mode with MAC %s"),
                  self.dvr_mac_address)
         # Remove existing flows in integration bridge
-        self.int_br.delete_flows()
+        if self.conf.AGENT.drop_flows_on_start:
+            self.int_br.delete_flows()
 
         # Add a canary flow to int_br to track OVS restarts
         self.int_br.setup_canary_table()
diff --git a/neutron/tests/unit/plugins/ml2/drivers/openvswitch/agent/test_ovs_neutron_agent.py b/neutron/tests/unit/plugins/ml2/drivers/openvswitch/agent/test_ovs_neutron_agent.py
index f4b422879a9..0af60b24237 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/unit/plugins/ml2/drivers/openvswitch/agent/test_ovs_neutron_agent.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/unit/plugins/ml2/drivers/openvswitch/agent/test_ovs_neutron_agent.py
@@ -2169,7 +2169,6 @@ class TestOvsDvrNeutronAgent(object):
             ioport = self.agent.dvr_agent.int_ofports[physical_networks[0]]
             expected_on_int_br = [
                 # setup_dvr_flows_on_integ_br
-                mock.call.delete_flows(),
                 mock.call.setup_canary_table(),
                 mock.call.install_drop(table_id=constants.DVR_TO_SRC_MAC,
                                        priority=1),