diff --git a/nova/objects/security_group.py b/nova/objects/security_group.py
index b9291982ccea..706d19165f31 100644
--- a/nova/objects/security_group.py
+++ b/nova/objects/security_group.py
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@ class SecurityGroup(base.NovaPersistentObject, base.NovaObject):
         self._from_db_object(self._context, self,
                              db.security_group_get(self._context, self.id))
 
+    @property
+    def identifier(self):
+        return self.uuid if 'uuid' in self else self.name
+
 
 @base.NovaObjectRegistry.register
 class SecurityGroupList(base.ObjectListBase, base.NovaObject):
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_security_group.py b/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_security_group.py
index 821f8d670e7a..1eb1a9f4b606 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_security_group.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_security_group.py
@@ -123,6 +123,12 @@ class _TestSecurityGroupObject(object):
         secgroup.save()
         self.assertFalse(mock_db_update.called)
 
+    def test_identifier(self):
+        secgroup = security_group.SecurityGroup(name='foo')
+        self.assertEqual('foo', secgroup.identifier)
+        secgroup.uuid = uuids.secgroup
+        self.assertEqual(uuids.secgroup, secgroup.identifier)
+
 
 class TestSecurityGroupObject(test_objects._LocalTest,
                               _TestSecurityGroupObject):