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 e0c1ac3c25f..b698a86ff89 100644
--- a/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/neutron_plugin_db.py
+++ b/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/neutron_plugin_db.py
@@ -1835,15 +1835,18 @@ def _port_neutron_to_vnc(self, port_q, net_obj, oper):
         # 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.
+        vmi_binding_kvps = dict((k.replace('binding:',''), v)
+            for k,v in port_q.items() if k.startswith('binding:'))
+        for k,v in vmi_binding_kvps.items():
+            if isinstance(v, basestring):
+                continue
+            vmi_binding_kvps[k] = json.dumps(v)
+
         if oper == CREATE:
-            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:',''), 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(
                     KeyValuePair(key=k, value=v))
@@ -2033,9 +2036,8 @@ def _port_vnc_to_neutron(self, port_obj, port_req_memo=None):
             for kvp in kvps:
                 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
+                except (ValueError, TypeError):
+                    # native string case, so not stored as json
                     port_q_dict['binding:'+kvp.key] = kvp.value
 
         # 1. upgrade case, port created before bindings prop was
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 ec50bd3705a..350da32fcc0 100644
--- a/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/tests/test_basic.py
+++ b/src/config/vnc_openstack/vnc_openstack/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -276,11 +276,13 @@ def test_port_bindings(self):
                    'roles': ''}
         data = {'resource':{'network_id': vn_obj.uuid,
                             'tenant_id': proj_uuid,
-                            'binding:profile': {'foo': 'bar'}}}
+                            'binding:profile': {'foo': 'bar'},
+                            'binding:host_id': 'somehost'}}
         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))
+        self.assertTrue(isinstance(port_dict['binding:host_id'], basestring))
     # end test_port_bindings
 # end class TestBasic