diff --git a/src/config/api-server/tests/test_crud_basic.py b/src/config/api-server/tests/test_crud_basic.py
index 65a627573c9..d45e1fc7828 100644
--- a/src/config/api-server/tests/test_crud_basic.py
+++ b/src/config/api-server/tests/test_crud_basic.py
@@ -950,6 +950,12 @@ def create_vns():
             self.assertThat(obj_dict[0]['fq_name'][:-1],
                 Equals(proj_obj.fq_name))
 
+        # unanchored list with unknown filter
+        read_vn_objs = self._vnc_lib.virtual_networks_list(
+            parent_id=proj_obj.uuid,
+            filters={'foo': 'bar'})['virtual-networks']
+        self.assertEqual(len(read_vn_objs), num_objs)
+
         # parent anchored detailed list without filters
         read_vn_objs = self._vnc_lib.virtual_networks_list(
             parent_id=proj_obj.uuid, detail=True)
diff --git a/src/config/common/vnc_cassandra.py b/src/config/common/vnc_cassandra.py
index 704ff299647..0e865198652 100644
--- a/src/config/common/vnc_cassandra.py
+++ b/src/config/common/vnc_cassandra.py
@@ -975,7 +975,10 @@ def filter_rows(coll_infos, filters=None):
                 return coll_infos
 
             filtered_infos = {}
-            columns = ['prop:%s' % filter_key for filter_key in filters]
+            columns = ['prop:%s' % filter_key for filter_key in filters if
+                       filter_key in obj_class.prop_fields]
+            if not columns:
+                return coll_infos
             rows = self.multiget(self._OBJ_UUID_CF_NAME,
                                  coll_infos.keys(),
                                  columns=columns)
diff --git a/src/config/common/vnc_rdbms.py b/src/config/common/vnc_rdbms.py
index abe794be161..03cfb95c327 100644
--- a/src/config/common/vnc_rdbms.py
+++ b/src/config/common/vnc_rdbms.py
@@ -1078,7 +1078,9 @@ def object_list(self, res_type, parent_uuids=None, back_ref_uuids=None,
 
         if filters:
             for key, value in filters.iteritems():
-                value = [ json.dumps(v) for v in value]
+                if key not in obj_class.prop_fields:
+                    continue
+                value = [json.dumps(v) for v in value]
                 sqa_objs = sqa_objs.filter(getattr(sqa_class, key).in_(value))
 
         if count: