diff --git a/nova/network/linux_net.py b/nova/network/linux_net.py
index 6487580a28e..8d9501a9631 100644
--- a/nova/network/linux_net.py
+++ b/nova/network/linux_net.py
@@ -1400,12 +1400,16 @@ def delete_ivs_vif_port(dev):
                   run_as_root=True)
 
 
-def create_tap_dev(dev, mac_address=None):
+def create_tap_dev(dev, mac_address=None, multiqueue=False):
     if not device_exists(dev):
         try:
             # First, try with 'ip'
-            utils.execute('ip', 'tuntap', 'add', dev, 'mode', 'tap',
-                          run_as_root=True, check_exit_code=[0, 2, 254])
+            if multiqueue:
+                cmd = ('ip', 'tuntap', 'add', dev, 'mode', 'tap',
+                       'multi_queue')
+            else:
+                cmd = ('ip', 'tuntap', 'add', dev, 'mode', 'tap')
+            utils.execute(*cmd, run_as_root=True, check_exit_code=[0, 2, 254])
         except processutils.ProcessExecutionError:
             # Second option: tunctl
             utils.execute('tunctl', '-b', '-t', dev, run_as_root=True)
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
index 0a0a6a051a8..89da202d19b 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
@@ -727,9 +727,20 @@ def plug_vrouter(self, instance, vif):
 
         Bind the vif to a Contrail virtual port.
         """
+        def multiqueue_enabled(instance):
+            metadata = instance['system_metadata']
+            mq = metadata.get('image_hw_vif_multiqueue_enabled')
+            vcpus = 0 if 'vcpus' not in instance else instance['vcpus']
+
+            if mq and mq.lower() == 'true' and vcpus > 1:
+                return True
+            else:
+                return False
+
         dev = self.get_vif_devname(vif)
         try:
-            linux_net.create_tap_dev(dev)
+            linux_net.create_tap_dev(dev,
+                    multiqueue=multiqueue_enabled(instance))
             self._vrouter_port_add(instance, vif)
         except processutils.ProcessExecutionError:
             LOG.exception(_LE("Failed while plugging vif"), instance=instance)