diff --git a/nova/api/openstack/compute/servers.py b/nova/api/openstack/compute/servers.py
index d04b041226b..5c348ceecaf 100644
--- a/nova/api/openstack/compute/servers.py
+++ b/nova/api/openstack/compute/servers.py
@@ -931,6 +931,7 @@ def create(self, req, body):
                 exception.InstanceTypeNotFound,
                 exception.InvalidMetadata,
                 exception.InvalidRequest,
+                exception.PortNotFound,
                 exception.SecurityGroupNotFound) as error:
             raise exc.HTTPBadRequest(explanation=error.format_message())
         except exception.PortInUse as error:
diff --git a/nova/network/neutronv2/api.py b/nova/network/neutronv2/api.py
index 1a2d8b7b420..74350535347 100644
--- a/nova/network/neutronv2/api.py
+++ b/nova/network/neutronv2/api.py
@@ -496,9 +496,13 @@ def validate_networks(self, context, requested_networks):
 
         for (net_id, _i, port_id) in requested_networks:
             if port_id:
-                port = (neutronv2.get_client(context)
-                                 .show_port(port_id)
-                                 .get('port'))
+                try:
+                    port = (neutronv2.get_client(context)
+                                     .show_port(port_id)
+                                     .get('port'))
+                except neutronv2.exceptions.NeutronClientException as e:
+                    if e.status_code == 404:
+                        port = None
                 if not port:
                     raise exception.PortNotFound(port_id=port_id)
                 if port.get('device_id', None):
diff --git a/nova/tests/api/openstack/compute/test_servers.py b/nova/tests/api/openstack/compute/test_servers.py
index 42cebfdb775..e3308f48ab1 100644
--- a/nova/tests/api/openstack/compute/test_servers.py
+++ b/nova/tests/api/openstack/compute/test_servers.py
@@ -2779,6 +2779,20 @@ def fake_create(*args, **kwargs):
         self.assertRaises(webob.exc.HTTPConflict,
                                           self._test_create_extra, params)
 
+    def test_create_instance_with_neutronv2_port_not_found(self):
+        self.flags(network_api_class='nova.network.neutronv2.api.API')
+        network = 'aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa'
+        port = 'eeeeeeee-eeee-eeee-eeee-eeeeeeeeeeee'
+        requested_networks = [{'uuid': network, 'port': port}]
+        params = {'networks': requested_networks}
+
+        def fake_create(*args, **kwargs):
+            raise exception.PortNotFound(port_id=port)
+
+        self.stubs.Set(compute_api.API, 'create', fake_create)
+        self.assertRaises(webob.exc.HTTPBadRequest,
+                                        self._test_create_extra, params)
+
     def test_create_instance_with_networks_disabled_neutronv2(self):
         self.flags(network_api_class='nova.network.neutronv2.api.API')
         net_uuid = '76fa36fc-c930-4bf3-8c8a-ea2a2420deb6'
diff --git a/nova/tests/network/test_neutronv2.py b/nova/tests/network/test_neutronv2.py
index 06dec909c1c..b00da8b5f1e 100644
--- a/nova/tests/network/test_neutronv2.py
+++ b/nova/tests/network/test_neutronv2.py
@@ -942,6 +942,24 @@ def test_validate_networks_not_specified(self):
                           api.validate_networks,
                           self.context, requested_networks)
 
+    def test_validate_networks_port_not_found(self):
+        # Verify that the correct exception is thrown when a non existent
+        # port is passed to validate_networks.
+
+        requested_networks = [('my_netid1', None, '3123-ad34-bc43-32332ca33e')]
+
+        NeutronNotFound = neutronv2.exceptions.NeutronClientException(
+                                                            status_code=404)
+        self.moxed_client.show_port(requested_networks[0][2]).AndRaise(
+                                                        NeutronNotFound)
+        self.mox.ReplayAll()
+        # Expected call from setUp.
+        neutronv2.get_client(None)
+        api = neutronapi.API()
+        self.assertRaises(exception.PortNotFound,
+                          api.validate_networks,
+                          self.context, requested_networks)
+
     def _mock_list_ports(self, port_data=None):
         if port_data is None:
             port_data = self.port_data2