diff --git a/nova/objects/migrate_data.py b/nova/objects/migrate_data.py
index 8fb974c16707..06f30342e54f 100644
--- a/nova/objects/migrate_data.py
+++ b/nova/objects/migrate_data.py
@@ -86,7 +86,10 @@ class VIFMigrateData(obj_base.NovaObject):
     # info in the profile catch-all blob
     @supports_os_vif_delegation.setter
     def supports_os_vif_delegation(self, supported):
-        self.profile[OS_VIF_DELEGATION] = supported
+        # we can't simply set the attribute using dict notation since the
+        # getter returns a copy of the data, not the data itself
+        self.profile = dict(
+            self.profile or {}, **{OS_VIF_DELEGATION: supported})
 
     def get_dest_vif(self):
         """Get a destination VIF representation of this object.
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_migrate_data.py b/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_migrate_data.py
index 38542b8738d2..bc04c5bd13a3 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_migrate_data.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_migrate_data.py
@@ -316,3 +316,24 @@ class TestVIFMigrateData(test.NoDBTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(len(vifs), len(mig_vifs))
         self.assertEqual([vif['id'] for vif in vifs],
                          [mig_vif.port_id for mig_vif in mig_vifs])
+
+    def test_supports_os_vif_delegation(self):
+        # first try setting on a object without 'profile' defined
+        migrate_vif = objects.VIFMigrateData(
+            port_id=uuids.port_id, vnic_type=network_model.VNIC_TYPE_NORMAL,
+            vif_type=network_model.VIF_TYPE_OVS, vif_details={},
+            host='fake-dest-host')
+        migrate_vif.supports_os_vif_delegation = True
+        self.assertTrue(migrate_vif.supports_os_vif_delegation)
+        self.assertEqual(migrate_vif.profile, {'os_vif_delegation': True})
+
+        # now do the same but with profile defined
+        migrate_vif = objects.VIFMigrateData(
+            port_id=uuids.port_id, vnic_type=network_model.VNIC_TYPE_NORMAL,
+            vif_type=network_model.VIF_TYPE_OVS, vif_details={},
+            host='fake-dest-host', profile={'interface_name': 'eth0'})
+        migrate_vif.supports_os_vif_delegation = True
+        self.assertTrue(migrate_vif.supports_os_vif_delegation)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            migrate_vif.profile,
+            {'os_vif_delegation': True, 'interface_name': 'eth0'})
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py
index 1e1f3e289172..31a9e9ee67c1 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py
@@ -10901,6 +10901,28 @@ class LibvirtConnTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase,
                           self.context, instance_ref,
                           compute_info, compute_info, False)
 
+    @mock.patch(
+        'nova.network.neutron.API.supports_port_binding_extension',
+        new=mock.Mock(return_value=True))
+    @mock.patch.object(
+        libvirt_driver.LibvirtDriver,
+        '_create_shared_storage_test_file',
+        return_value='fake')
+    @mock.patch.object(libvirt_driver.LibvirtDriver, '_compare_cpu')
+    def test_check_can_live_migrate_dest_create_dummy_vif(
+        self, mock_cpu, mock_test_file,
+    ):
+        instance_ref = objects.Instance(**self.test_instance)
+        drvr = libvirt_driver.LibvirtDriver(fake.FakeVirtAPI(), False)
+        compute_info = {'cpu_info': 'asdf', 'disk_available_least': 1}
+        result = drvr.check_can_live_migrate_destination(
+            self.context, instance_ref, compute_info, compute_info)
+        self.assertIn('vifs', result)
+        self.assertIsInstance(result.vifs, list)
+
+        for vif in result.vifs:
+            self.assertTrue(vif.supports_os_vif_delegation)
+
     @mock.patch.object(host.Host, 'compare_cpu')
     @mock.patch.object(nova.virt.libvirt, 'config')
     def test_compare_cpu_compatible_host_cpu(self, mock_vconfig, mock_compare):