diff --git a/nova/network/linux_net.py b/nova/network/linux_net.py
index 0d444c69d1e0..44e147632f36 100644
--- a/nova/network/linux_net.py
+++ b/nova/network/linux_net.py
@@ -1770,32 +1770,6 @@ class NeutronLinuxBridgeInterfaceDriver(LinuxNetInterfaceDriver):
 iptables_manager = IptablesManager()
 
 
-def set_vf_interface_vlan(pci_addr, mac_addr, vlan=0):
-    pf_ifname = pci_utils.get_ifname_by_pci_address(pci_addr,
-                                                    pf_interface=True)
-    vf_ifname = pci_utils.get_ifname_by_pci_address(pci_addr)
-    vf_num = pci_utils.get_vf_num_by_pci_address(pci_addr)
-
-    # Set the VF's mac address and vlan
-    exit_code = [0, 2, 254]
-    port_state = 'up' if vlan > 0 else 'down'
-    utils.execute('ip', 'link', 'set', pf_ifname,
-                  'vf', vf_num,
-                  'mac', mac_addr,
-                  'vlan', vlan,
-                  run_as_root=True,
-                  check_exit_code=exit_code)
-    # Bring up/down the VF's interface
-    # TODO(edand): The mac is assigned as a workaround for the following issue
-    #              https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1372944
-    #              once resolved it will be removed
-    utils.execute('ip', 'link', 'set', vf_ifname,
-                  'address', mac_addr,
-                  port_state,
-                  run_as_root=True,
-                  check_exit_code=exit_code)
-
-
 def set_vf_trusted(pci_addr, trusted):
     """Configures the VF to be trusted or not
 
diff --git a/nova/network/linux_utils.py b/nova/network/linux_utils.py
index 8498b8010f82..15ca3b91293a 100644
--- a/nova/network/linux_utils.py
+++ b/nova/network/linux_utils.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from oslo_concurrency import processutils
 from oslo_log import log as logging
 from oslo_utils import excutils
 
+from nova.pci import utils as pci_utils
 from nova import utils
 
 
@@ -93,3 +94,29 @@ def create_tap_dev(dev, mac_address=None, multiqueue=False):
                           run_as_root=True, check_exit_code=[0, 2, 254])
         utils.execute('ip', 'link', 'set', dev, 'up', run_as_root=True,
                       check_exit_code=[0, 2, 254])
+
+
+def set_vf_interface_vlan(pci_addr, mac_addr, vlan=0):
+    pf_ifname = pci_utils.get_ifname_by_pci_address(pci_addr,
+                                                    pf_interface=True)
+    vf_ifname = pci_utils.get_ifname_by_pci_address(pci_addr)
+    vf_num = pci_utils.get_vf_num_by_pci_address(pci_addr)
+
+    # Set the VF's mac address and vlan
+    exit_code = [0, 2, 254]
+    port_state = 'up' if vlan > 0 else 'down'
+    utils.execute('ip', 'link', 'set', pf_ifname,
+                  'vf', vf_num,
+                  'mac', mac_addr,
+                  'vlan', vlan,
+                  run_as_root=True,
+                  check_exit_code=exit_code)
+    # Bring up/down the VF's interface
+    # TODO(edand): The mac is assigned as a workaround for the following issue
+    #              https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1372944
+    #              once resolved it will be removed
+    utils.execute('ip', 'link', 'set', vf_ifname,
+                  'address', mac_addr,
+                  port_state,
+                  run_as_root=True,
+                  check_exit_code=exit_code)
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
index 9903f07aef93..efd9309426e5 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ class LibvirtGenericVIFDriver(object):
         # TODO(vladikr): This code can be removed once the minimum version of
         # Libvirt is incleased above 1.3.5, as vlan will be set by libvirt
         if vif['vnic_type'] == network_model.VNIC_TYPE_MACVTAP:
-            linux_net.set_vf_interface_vlan(
+            linux_net_utils.set_vf_interface_vlan(
                 vif['profile']['pci_slot'],
                 mac_addr=vif['address'],
                 vlan=vif['details'][network_model.VIF_DETAILS_VLAN])
@@ -788,8 +788,8 @@ class LibvirtGenericVIFDriver(object):
             # The ip utility doesn't accept the MAC 00:00:00:00:00:00.
             # Therefore, keep the MAC unchanged.  Later operations on
             # the same VF will not be affected by the existing MAC.
-            linux_net.set_vf_interface_vlan(vif['profile']['pci_slot'],
-                                            mac_addr=vif['address'])
+            linux_net_utils.set_vf_interface_vlan(vif['profile']['pci_slot'],
+                                                  mac_addr=vif['address'])
 
     def unplug_hostdev_physical(self, instance, vif):
         pass