diff --git a/nova/tests/test_migration_utils.py b/nova/tests/test_migration_utils.py
index 1096be0d3..d98b3952b 100644
--- a/nova/tests/test_migration_utils.py
+++ b/nova/tests/test_migration_utils.py
@@ -18,16 +18,24 @@
 from migrate.changeset import UniqueConstraint
 from sqlalchemy import Integer, DateTime, String
 from sqlalchemy import MetaData, Table, Column
+from sqlalchemy.exc import NoSuchTableError
 from sqlalchemy.exc import SAWarning
 from sqlalchemy.sql import select
 from sqlalchemy.types import UserDefinedType
 
+from nova.db.sqlalchemy import api as db
 from nova.db.sqlalchemy import utils
 from nova import exception
 from nova.tests import test_migrations
 import warnings
 
 
+class CustomType(UserDefinedType):
+    """Dummy column type for testing unsupported types."""
+    def get_col_spec(self):
+        return "CustomType"
+
+
 class TestMigrationUtils(test_migrations.BaseMigrationTestCase):
     """Class for testing utils that are used in db migrations."""
 
@@ -75,11 +83,6 @@ class TestMigrationUtils(test_migrations.BaseMigrationTestCase):
 
     def test_util_drop_unique_constraint_with_not_supported_sqlite_type(self):
 
-        class CustomType(UserDefinedType):
-            """Dummy column type for testing unsupported types."""
-            def get_col_spec(self):
-                return "CustomType"
-
         table_name = "__test_tmp_table__"
         uc_name = 'uniq_foo'
         values = [
@@ -235,3 +238,77 @@ class TestMigrationUtils(test_migrations.BaseMigrationTestCase):
                              len(values) - len(row_ids))
             for value in soft_deleted_values:
                 self.assertTrue(value['id'] in deleted_rows_ids)
+
+    def test_check_shadow_table(self):
+        table_name = 'abc'
+        for key, engine in self.engines.items():
+            meta = MetaData()
+            meta.bind = engine
+
+            table = Table(table_name, meta,
+                          Column('id', Integer, primary_key=True),
+                          Column('a', Integer),
+                          Column('c', String(256)))
+            table.create()
+
+            #check missing shadow table
+            self.assertRaises(NoSuchTableError,
+                              utils.check_shadow_table, engine, table_name)
+
+            shadow_table = Table(db._SHADOW_TABLE_PREFIX + table_name, meta,
+                                 Column('id', Integer),
+                                 Column('a', Integer))
+            shadow_table.create()
+
+            # check missing column
+            self.assertRaises(exception.NovaException,
+                              utils.check_shadow_table, engine, table_name)
+
+            # check when all is ok
+            c = Column('c', String(256))
+            shadow_table.create_column(c)
+            self.assertTrue(utils.check_shadow_table(engine, table_name))
+
+            # check extra column
+            d = Column('d', Integer)
+            shadow_table.create_column(d)
+            self.assertRaises(exception.NovaException,
+                              utils.check_shadow_table, engine, table_name)
+
+    def test_check_shadow_table_different_types(self):
+        table_name = 'abc'
+        for key, engine in self.engines.items():
+            meta = MetaData()
+            meta.bind = engine
+
+            table = Table(table_name, meta,
+                          Column('id', Integer, primary_key=True),
+                          Column('a', Integer))
+            table.create()
+
+            shadow_table = Table(db._SHADOW_TABLE_PREFIX + table_name, meta,
+                                 Column('id', Integer, primary_key=True),
+                                 Column('a', String(256)))
+            shadow_table.create()
+            self.assertRaises(exception.NovaException,
+                              utils.check_shadow_table, engine, table_name)
+
+    def test_check_shadow_table_with_unsupported_type(self):
+        table_name = 'abc'
+        for key, engine in self.engines.items():
+            meta = MetaData()
+            meta.bind = engine
+
+            table = Table(table_name, meta,
+                          Column('id', Integer, primary_key=True),
+                          Column('a', Integer),
+                          Column('c', CustomType))
+            table.create()
+
+            shadow_table = Table(db._SHADOW_TABLE_PREFIX + table_name, meta,
+                                 Column('id', Integer, primary_key=True),
+                                 Column('a', Integer),
+                                 Column('c', CustomType))
+            shadow_table.create()
+
+            self.assertTrue(utils.check_shadow_table(engine, table_name))
diff --git a/nova/tests/test_migrations.py b/nova/tests/test_migrations.py
index d03e18160..b2319cc09 100644
--- a/nova/tests/test_migrations.py
+++ b/nova/tests/test_migrations.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.dialects import postgresql
 from sqlalchemy.dialects import sqlite
 import sqlalchemy.exc
 
+from nova.db.sqlalchemy import api as db
 import nova.db.sqlalchemy.migrate_repo
 from nova.openstack.common import lockutils
 from nova.openstack.common import log as logging
@@ -855,13 +856,13 @@ class TestNovaMigrations(BaseMigrationTestCase, CommonTestsMixIn):
         meta.reflect(engine)
         table_names = set(meta.tables.keys())
         for table_name in table_names:
-            if table_name.startswith("shadow_"):
+            if table_name.startswith(db._SHADOW_TABLE_PREFIX):
                 shadow_name = table_name
-                base_name = table_name.replace("shadow_", "")
+                base_name = table_name.replace(db._SHADOW_TABLE_PREFIX, "")
                 self.assertIn(base_name, table_names)
             else:
                 base_name = table_name
-                shadow_name = "shadow_" + table_name
+                shadow_name = db._SHADOW_TABLE_PREFIX + table_name
                 self.assertIn(shadow_name, table_names)
             shadow_table = get_table(engine, shadow_name)
             base_table = get_table(engine, base_name)