diff --git a/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/neutron_plugin_db.py b/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/neutron_plugin_db.py
index 0e88756846f..bd18900091f 100644
--- a/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/neutron_plugin_db.py
+++ b/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/neutron_plugin_db.py
@@ -1826,16 +1826,17 @@ def _port_neutron_to_vnc(self, port_q, net_obj, oper):
         if 'device_owner' in port_q:
             port_obj.set_virtual_machine_interface_device_owner(port_q.get('device_owner'))
 
-        # pick binding keys from neutron repr and persist as kvp elements.
+        # pick binding keys from neutron repr and persist as kvp elements
+        # that are string/string(k/v).
         # it is assumed allowing/denying oper*key is done at neutron-server.
         if oper == CREATE:
-            vmi_binding_kvps = dict((k.replace('binding:',''), v)
+            vmi_binding_kvps = dict((k.replace('binding:',''), json.dumps(v))
                 for k,v in port_q.items() if k.startswith('binding:'))
             port_obj.set_virtual_machine_interface_bindings(
                 KeyValuePairs([KeyValuePair(k,v)
                               for k,v in vmi_binding_kvps.items()]))
         elif oper == UPDATE:
-            vmi_binding_kvps = dict((k.replace('binding:',''), v)
+            vmi_binding_kvps = dict((k.replace('binding:',''), json.dumps(v))
                 for k,v in port_q.items() if k.startswith('binding:'))
             for k,v in vmi_binding_kvps.items():
                 port_obj.add_virtual_machine_interface_bindings(
@@ -2024,7 +2025,12 @@ def _port_vnc_to_neutron(self, port_obj, port_req_memo=None):
         if bindings:
             kvps = bindings.get_key_value_pair()
             for kvp in kvps:
-                port_q_dict['binding:'+kvp.key] = kvp.value
+                try:
+                    port_q_dict['binding:'+kvp.key] = json.loads(kvp.value)
+                except ValueError:
+                    # upgrade case, earlier version might have saved it
+                    # in non-json format OR vif_details/vif_type/vnic_type
+                    port_q_dict['binding:'+kvp.key] = kvp.value
 
         # 1. upgrade case, port created before bindings prop was
         #    defined on vmi OR
diff --git a/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/tests/test_basic.py b/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/tests/test_basic.py
index d72ee492315..ec50bd3705a 100644
--- a/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/tests/test_basic.py
+++ b/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -255,6 +255,33 @@ def test_extra_fields_on_network(self):
         net_dict = json.loads(resp.text)
         self.assertIn('contrail:fq_name', net_dict)
     # end test_extra_fields_on_network
+
+    def test_port_bindings(self):
+        vn_obj = vnc_api.VirtualNetwork(self.id())
+        vn_obj.add_network_ipam(vnc_api.NetworkIpam(),
+            vnc_api.VnSubnetsType(
+                [vnc_api.IpamSubnetType(
+                         vnc_api.SubnetType('1.1.1.0', 24))]))
+        self._vnc_lib.virtual_network_create(vn_obj)
+
+        sg_obj = vnc_api.SecurityGroup('default')
+        self._vnc_lib.security_group_create(sg_obj)
+
+        proj_uuid = self._vnc_lib.fq_name_to_id('project',
+            fq_name=['default-domain', 'default-project'])
+
+        context = {'operation': 'CREATE',
+                   'user_id': '',
+                   'is_admin': True,
+                   'roles': ''}
+        data = {'resource':{'network_id': vn_obj.uuid,
+                            'tenant_id': proj_uuid,
+                            'binding:profile': {'foo': 'bar'}}}
+        body = {'context': context, 'data': data}
+        resp = self._api_svr_app.post_json('/neutron/port', body)
+        port_dict = json.loads(resp.text)
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(port_dict['binding:profile'], dict))
+    # end test_port_bindings
 # end class TestBasic
 
 class TestExtraFieldsPresenceByKnob(test_case.NeutronBackendTestCase):