diff --git a/etc/policy.json b/etc/policy.json
index 81fe49556a..d21427cb4e 100644
--- a/etc/policy.json
+++ b/etc/policy.json
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
     "update_network:provider:network_type": "rule:admin_only",
     "update_network:provider:physical_network": "rule:admin_only",
     "update_network:provider:segmentation_id": "rule:admin_only",
+    "update_network:router:external": "rule:admin_only",
     "delete_network": "rule:admin_or_owner",
 
     "create_port": "",
diff --git a/neutron/extensions/external_net.py b/neutron/extensions/external_net.py
index 6e50e93cb0..0e24f13f6c 100644
--- a/neutron/extensions/external_net.py
+++ b/neutron/extensions/external_net.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ EXTERNAL = 'router:external'
 EXTENDED_ATTRIBUTES_2_0 = {
     'networks': {EXTERNAL: {'allow_post': True,
                             'allow_put': True,
-                            'default': attr.ATTR_NOT_SPECIFIED,
+                            'default': False,
                             'is_visible': True,
                             'convert_to': attr.convert_to_boolean,
                             'enforce_policy': True,
diff --git a/neutron/tests/unit/test_extension_ext_net.py b/neutron/tests/unit/test_extension_ext_net.py
index d841670b15..fc308747c0 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/unit/test_extension_ext_net.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/unit/test_extension_ext_net.py
@@ -108,6 +108,19 @@ class ExtNetDBTestCase(test_db_plugin.NeutronDbPluginV2TestCase):
         result = plugin.get_networks(ctx, filters=None)
         self.assertEqual(result, [])
 
+    def test_update_network_set_external_non_admin_fails(self):
+        # Assert that a non-admin user cannot update the
+        # router:external attribute
+        with self.network(tenant_id='noadmin') as network:
+            data = {'network': {'router:external': True}}
+            req = self.new_update_request('networks',
+                                          data,
+                                          network['network']['id'])
+            req.environ['neutron.context'] = context.Context('', 'noadmin')
+            res = req.get_response(self.api)
+            # The API layer always returns 404 on updates in place of 403
+            self.assertEqual(exc.HTTPNotFound.code, res.status_int)
+
     def test_network_filter_hook_admin_context(self):
         plugin = manager.NeutronManager.get_plugin()
         ctx = context.Context(None, None, is_admin=True)