diff --git a/neutron/db/allowedaddresspairs_db.py b/neutron/db/allowedaddresspairs_db.py
index d1c35b221a..e28576ef3e 100644
--- a/neutron/db/allowedaddresspairs_db.py
+++ b/neutron/db/allowedaddresspairs_db.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import sqlalchemy as sa
 from sqlalchemy import orm
 
 from neutron.api.v2 import attributes as attr
+from neutron.common import utils
 from neutron.db import db_base_plugin_v2
 from neutron.db import model_base
 from neutron.db import models_v2
@@ -124,3 +125,17 @@ class AllowedAddressPairsMixin(object):
         """
         return (addr_pair.ADDRESS_PAIRS in port['port'] and
                 not self._has_address_pairs(port))
+
+    def is_address_pairs_attribute_updated(self, port, update_attrs):
+        """Check if the address pairs attribute is being updated.
+
+        This method returns a flag which indicates whether there is an update
+        and therefore a port update notification should be sent to agents or
+        third party controllers.
+        """
+        new_pairs = update_attrs.get(addr_pair.ADDRESS_PAIRS)
+        if new_pairs and not utils.compare_elements(
+            port.get(addr_pair.ADDRESS_PAIRS), new_pairs):
+            return True
+        # Missing or unchanged address pairs in attributes mean no update
+        return False
diff --git a/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py b/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
index 16307ef9b9..646ebf444c 100644
--- a/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
+++ b/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ class Ml2Plugin(db_base_plugin_v2.NeutronDbPluginV2,
             original_port = super(Ml2Plugin, self).get_port(context, id)
             updated_port = super(Ml2Plugin, self).update_port(context, id,
                                                               port)
-            if addr_pair.ADDRESS_PAIRS in port['port']:
+            if self.is_address_pairs_attribute_updated(original_port, port):
                 self._delete_allowed_address_pairs(context, id)
                 self._process_create_allowed_address_pairs(
                     context, updated_port,
diff --git a/neutron/plugins/nec/nec_plugin.py b/neutron/plugins/nec/nec_plugin.py
index 5d38a485f3..e8e2015089 100644
--- a/neutron/plugins/nec/nec_plugin.py
+++ b/neutron/plugins/nec/nec_plugin.py
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ class NECPluginV2(db_base_plugin_v2.NeutronDbPluginV2,
             new_port = super(NECPluginV2, self).update_port(context, id, port)
             portinfo_changed = self._process_portbindings_update(
                 context, port['port'], new_port)
-            if addr_pair.ADDRESS_PAIRS in port['port']:
+            if self.is_address_pairs_attribute_updated(old_port, port):
                 self._delete_allowed_address_pairs(context, id)
                 self._process_create_allowed_address_pairs(
                     context, new_port,
diff --git a/neutron/plugins/openvswitch/ovs_neutron_plugin.py b/neutron/plugins/openvswitch/ovs_neutron_plugin.py
index 6377c073ba..f037707f7e 100644
--- a/neutron/plugins/openvswitch/ovs_neutron_plugin.py
+++ b/neutron/plugins/openvswitch/ovs_neutron_plugin.py
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ class OVSNeutronPluginV2(db_base_plugin_v2.NeutronDbPluginV2,
                 context, id)
             updated_port = super(OVSNeutronPluginV2, self).update_port(
                 context, id, port)
-            if addr_pair.ADDRESS_PAIRS in port['port']:
+            if self.is_address_pairs_attribute_updated(original_port, port):
                 self._delete_allowed_address_pairs(context, id)
                 self._process_create_allowed_address_pairs(
                     context, updated_port,