diff --git a/nova/cells/manager.py b/nova/cells/manager.py
index 32b3c14e08f..344cb22eb48 100644
--- a/nova/cells/manager.py
+++ b/nova/cells/manager.py
@@ -38,11 +38,13 @@
 from nova import objects
 from nova.objects import base as base_obj
 from nova.objects import instance as instance_obj
+from nova import quota
 
 
 CONF = nova.conf.CONF
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+QUOTAS = quota.QUOTAS
 
 
 class CellsManager(manager.Manager):
@@ -112,6 +114,11 @@ def _update_our_parents(self, ctxt):
         self.msg_runner.tell_parents_our_capabilities(ctxt)
         self.msg_runner.tell_parents_our_capacities(ctxt)
 
+    @periodic_task.periodic_task
+    def _expire_reservations(self, context):
+        if CONF.cells.expire_reservations:
+            QUOTAS.expire(context)
+
     @periodic_task.periodic_task
     def _heal_instances(self, ctxt):
         """Periodic task to send updates for a number of instances to
diff --git a/nova/conf/cells.py b/nova/conf/cells.py
index 48d3331c781..b6c0ba43acd 100644
--- a/nova/conf/cells.py
+++ b/nova/conf/cells.py
@@ -431,7 +431,11 @@
 
 * This value is used with the ``instance_updated_at_threshold``
   value in a periodic task run.
-""")
+"""),
+        cfg.BoolOpt("expire_reservations",
+                default=False,
+                help="If True, enable the periodic task for reservation "
+                "expiry."),
 ]
 
 cell_messaging_opts = [