diff --git a/vmware_nsx/common/availability_zones.py b/vmware_nsx/common/availability_zones.py
index 9aada724d3..71c138d8a4 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx/common/availability_zones.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx/common/availability_zones.py
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ DEFAULT_NAME = 'default'
 
 class ConfiguredAvailabilityZone(object):
 
-    def __init__(self, config_line):
+    def __init__(self, config_line, default_name=DEFAULT_NAME):
         self.name = ""
+        self._is_default = False
         if config_line and ':' in config_line:
             # Older configuration - each line contains all the relevant
             # values for one availability zones, separated by ':'
@@ -46,11 +47,12 @@ class ConfiguredAvailabilityZone(object):
             self.init_from_config_section(self.name)
         else:
             # Default zone configuration
-            self.name = DEFAULT_NAME
+            self.name = default_name
+            self._is_default = True
             self.init_default_az()
 
     def is_default(self):
-        return self.name == DEFAULT_NAME
+        return self._is_default
 
     def _validate_zone_name(self, config_line):
         if len(self.name) > 36:
@@ -74,6 +76,8 @@ class ConfiguredAvailabilityZone(object):
 
 class ConfiguredAvailabilityZones(object):
 
+    default_name = DEFAULT_NAME
+
     def __init__(self, az_conf, az_class):
         self.availability_zones = {}
 
@@ -83,7 +87,7 @@ class ConfiguredAvailabilityZones(object):
             self.availability_zones[obj.name] = obj
 
         # add a default entry
-        obj = az_class(None)
+        obj = az_class(None, default_name=self.default_name)
         self.availability_zones[obj.name] = obj
 
         # validate the default az:
@@ -103,7 +107,7 @@ class ConfiguredAvailabilityZones(object):
                              "plugin"))
             self._default_az = self.availability_zones[default_az_name]
         else:
-            self._default_az = self.availability_zones[DEFAULT_NAME]
+            self._default_az = self.availability_zones[self.default_name]
 
     def get_availability_zone(self, name):
         """Return an availability zone object by its name
diff --git a/vmware_nsx/plugins/nsx_v3/availability_zones.py b/vmware_nsx/plugins/nsx_v3/availability_zones.py
index de0314c28c..3b11c88b36 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx/plugins/nsx_v3/availability_zones.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx/plugins/nsx_v3/availability_zones.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ from vmware_nsx.common import exceptions as nsx_exc
 from vmware_nsxlib.v3 import core_resources
 from vmware_nsxlib.v3 import nsx_constants as nsxlib_consts
 
-DEFAULT_NAME = common_az.DEFAULT_NAME
+DEFAULT_NAME = common_az.DEFAULT_NAME + 'v3'
 
 
 class NsxV3AvailabilityZone(common_az.ConfiguredAvailabilityZone):
@@ -202,6 +202,8 @@ class NsxV3AvailabilityZone(common_az.ConfiguredAvailabilityZone):
 
 class NsxV3AvailabilityZones(common_az.ConfiguredAvailabilityZones):
 
+    default_name = DEFAULT_NAME
+
     def __init__(self):
         super(NsxV3AvailabilityZones, self).__init__(
             cfg.CONF.nsx_v3.availability_zones,
diff --git a/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v3/test_dhcp_metadata.py b/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v3/test_dhcp_metadata.py
index 6fbda53a6b..3f91c8f0ec 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v3/test_dhcp_metadata.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v3/test_dhcp_metadata.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ from vmware_nsx.common import exceptions as nsx_exc
 from vmware_nsx.common import utils
 from vmware_nsx.db import db as nsx_db
 from vmware_nsx.extensions import advancedserviceproviders as as_providers
+from vmware_nsx.plugins.nsx_v3 import availability_zones as nsx_az
 from vmware_nsx.tests.unit.nsx_v3 import test_plugin
 from vmware_nsxlib.v3 import nsx_constants
 from vmware_nsxlib.v3 import resources as nsx_resources
@@ -819,7 +820,7 @@ class NsxNativeDhcpTestCase(test_plugin.NsxV3PluginTestCaseMixin):
         net = p.create_network(ctx, data)
         self.assertEqual([],
                          net['availability_zone_hints'])
-        self.assertEqual(['default'],
+        self.assertEqual([nsx_az.DEFAULT_NAME],
                          net['availability_zones'])
 
     def test_dhcp_service_with_create_az_network(self):