diff --git a/etc/nova/nova.conf.sample b/etc/nova/nova.conf.sample
index aeaf3180ef1b..263c666e3d63 100644
--- a/etc/nova/nova.conf.sample
+++ b/etc/nova/nova.conf.sample
@@ -1939,15 +1939,6 @@
 #force_raw_images=true
 
 
-#
-# Options defined in nova.virt.libvirt.vif
-#
-
-# Use virtio for bridge interfaces with KVM/QEMU (boolean
-# value)
-#libvirt_use_virtio_for_bridges=true
-
-
 #
 # Options defined in nova.virt.libvirt.volume
 #
@@ -2674,6 +2665,15 @@
 #snapshot_compression=false
 
 
+#
+# Options defined in nova.virt.libvirt.vif
+#
+
+# Use virtio for bridge interfaces with KVM/QEMU (boolean
+# value)
+#use_virtio_for_bridges=true
+
+
 [baremetal]
 
 #
diff --git a/nova/tests/virt/libvirt/test_libvirt_vif.py b/nova/tests/virt/libvirt/test_libvirt_vif.py
index 741c49560ec0..3d0b283bd819 100644
--- a/nova/tests/virt/libvirt/test_libvirt_vif.py
+++ b/nova/tests/virt/libvirt/test_libvirt_vif.py
@@ -318,16 +318,18 @@ class LibvirtVifTestCase(test.TestCase):
                              node.find("target").get("dev"))
 
     def test_model_novirtio(self):
-        self.flags(libvirt_use_virtio_for_bridges=False)
-        self.flags(virt_type='kvm', group='libvirt')
+        self.flags(use_virtio_for_bridges=False,
+                   virt_type='kvm',
+                   group='libvirt')
 
         d = vif.LibvirtGenericVIFDriver(self._get_conn())
         xml = self._get_instance_xml(d, self.vif_bridge)
         self._assertModel(xml)
 
     def test_model_kvm(self):
-        self.flags(libvirt_use_virtio_for_bridges=True)
-        self.flags(virt_type='kvm', group='libvirt')
+        self.flags(use_virtio_for_bridges=True,
+                   virt_type='kvm',
+                   group='libvirt')
 
         d = vif.LibvirtGenericVIFDriver(self._get_conn())
         xml = self._get_instance_xml(d, self.vif_bridge)
@@ -335,8 +337,9 @@ class LibvirtVifTestCase(test.TestCase):
         self._assertModel(xml, "virtio")
 
     def test_model_kvm_custom(self):
-        self.flags(libvirt_use_virtio_for_bridges=True)
-        self.flags(virt_type='kvm', group='libvirt')
+        self.flags(use_virtio_for_bridges=True,
+                   virt_type='kvm',
+                   group='libvirt')
 
         d = vif.LibvirtGenericVIFDriver(self._get_conn())
         image_meta = {'properties': {'hw_vif_model': 'e1000'}}
@@ -345,8 +348,9 @@ class LibvirtVifTestCase(test.TestCase):
         self._assertModel(xml, "e1000")
 
     def test_model_kvm_bogus(self):
-        self.flags(libvirt_use_virtio_for_bridges=True)
-        self.flags(virt_type='kvm', group='libvirt')
+        self.flags(use_virtio_for_bridges=True,
+                   virt_type='kvm',
+                   group='libvirt')
 
         d = vif.LibvirtGenericVIFDriver(self._get_conn())
         image_meta = {'properties': {'hw_vif_model': 'acme'}}
@@ -357,8 +361,9 @@ class LibvirtVifTestCase(test.TestCase):
                           image_meta)
 
     def test_model_qemu(self):
-        self.flags(libvirt_use_virtio_for_bridges=True)
-        self.flags(virt_type='qemu', group='libvirt')
+        self.flags(use_virtio_for_bridges=True,
+                   virt_type='qemu',
+                   group='libvirt')
 
         d = vif.LibvirtGenericVIFDriver(self._get_conn())
         xml = self._get_instance_xml(d, self.vif_bridge)
@@ -371,8 +376,9 @@ class LibvirtVifTestCase(test.TestCase):
         self._assertModel(xml, "virtio", "qemu")
 
     def test_model_xen(self):
-        self.flags(libvirt_use_virtio_for_bridges=True)
-        self.flags(virt_type='xen', group='libvirt')
+        self.flags(use_virtio_for_bridges=True,
+                   virt_type='xen',
+                   group='libvirt')
 
         d = vif.LibvirtGenericVIFDriver(self._get_conn("xen:///system"))
         xml = self._get_instance_xml(d, self.vif_bridge)
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
index 5bf0dbac9a90..cfff8dde8543 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
@@ -36,13 +36,15 @@ from nova.virt.libvirt import designer
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 libvirt_vif_opts = [
-    cfg.BoolOpt('libvirt_use_virtio_for_bridges',
+    cfg.BoolOpt('use_virtio_for_bridges',
                 default=True,
-                help='Use virtio for bridge interfaces with KVM/QEMU'),
+                help='Use virtio for bridge interfaces with KVM/QEMU',
+                deprecated_group='DEFAULT',
+                deprecated_name='libvirt_use_virtio_for_bridges'),
 ]
 
 CONF = cfg.CONF
-CONF.register_opts(libvirt_vif_opts)
+CONF.register_opts(libvirt_vif_opts, 'libvirt')
 CONF.import_opt('virt_type', 'nova.virt.libvirt.driver', group='libvirt')
 CONF.import_opt('use_ipv6', 'nova.netconf')
 
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ class LibvirtBaseVIFDriver(object):
         # to the global config parameter
         if (model is None and
             CONF.libvirt.virt_type in ('kvm', 'qemu') and
-                    CONF.libvirt_use_virtio_for_bridges):
+                    CONF.libvirt.use_virtio_for_bridges):
             model = "virtio"
 
         # Workaround libvirt bug, where it mistakenly