diff --git a/devstack/lib/vmware_nsx_v3 b/devstack/lib/vmware_nsx_v3
index 49f5b95cd4..4884540b30 100644
--- a/devstack/lib/vmware_nsx_v3
+++ b/devstack/lib/vmware_nsx_v3
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ function neutron_plugin_configure_service {
         die $LINENO "The VMware NSX plugin needs at least an NSX controller."
     fi
     if [[ "$NSX_L2GW_DRIVER" != "" ]]; then
-        iniset /$Q_PLUGIN_CONF_FILE nsx nsx_l2gw_driver $NSX_L2GW_DRIVER
+        iniset /$Q_PLUGIN_CONF_FILE DEFAULT nsx_l2gw_driver $NSX_L2GW_DRIVER
     fi
     _nsxv3_ini_set default_tier0_router_uuid $DEFAULT_TIER0_ROUTER_UUID
     _nsxv3_ini_set nsx_manager $NSX_MANAGER "The VMWare NSX plugin needs a NSX manager."
diff --git a/etc/nsx.ini b/etc/nsx.ini
index 27983d4f9f..a94047601d 100644
--- a/etc/nsx.ini
+++ b/etc/nsx.ini
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@
 # Reconnect connection to nsx if not used within this amount of time.
 # conn_idle_timeout = 900
 
+# Specify the class path for the Layer 2 gateway backend driver(i.e. NSXv3/NSX-V).
+# This field will be used when a L2 Gateway service plugin is configured.
+# nsx_l2gw_driver =
+
 [quotas]
 # number of network gateways allowed per tenant, -1 means unlimited
 # quota_network_gateway = 5
@@ -225,10 +229,6 @@
 # "service".
 # replication_mode = service
 
-# Specify the class path for the Layer 2 gateway backend driver(i.e. NSXv3/NSX-V).
-# This field will be used when a L2 Gateway service plugin is configured.
-# nsx_l2gw_driver = vmware_nsx.services.l2gateway.nsx_v3.driver.NsxV3Driver
-
 [nsx_sync]
 # Interval in seconds between runs of the status synchronization task.
 # The plugin will aim at resynchronizing operational status for all
diff --git a/vmware_nsx/common/config.py b/vmware_nsx/common/config.py
index 28ee6968a1..2fa8ee485b 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx/common/config.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx/common/config.py
@@ -79,8 +79,6 @@ base_opts = [
                       " if one does not want to deploy a service node(s). "
                       "It must be set to 'service' for leveraging distributed "
                       "routers.")),
-    cfg.StrOpt('nsx_l2gw_driver',
-               help=_("Class path for the L2 gateway backend driver"))
 ]
 
 sync_opts = [
@@ -160,6 +158,11 @@ cluster_opts = [
                       "network connection")),
 ]
 
+nsx_common_opts = [
+    cfg.StrOpt('nsx_l2gw_driver',
+               help=_("Class path for the L2 gateway backend driver"))
+]
+
 nsx_v3_opts = [
     cfg.StrOpt('nsx_user',
                default='admin',
@@ -327,6 +330,7 @@ nsxv_opts = [
 # Register the configuration options
 cfg.CONF.register_opts(connection_opts)
 cfg.CONF.register_opts(cluster_opts)
+cfg.CONF.register_opts(nsx_common_opts)
 cfg.CONF.register_opts(nsx_v3_opts, group="nsx_v3")
 cfg.CONF.register_opts(nsxv_opts, group="nsxv")
 cfg.CONF.register_opts(base_opts, group="NSX")
diff --git a/vmware_nsx/services/l2gateway/common/plugin.py b/vmware_nsx/services/l2gateway/common/plugin.py
index e92d0615d1..3d4e2647c8 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx/services/l2gateway/common/plugin.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx/services/l2gateway/common/plugin.py
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ class NsxL2GatewayPlugin(l2gateway_db.L2GatewayMixin):
         """Initialize service plugin and load backend driver."""
         super(NsxL2GatewayPlugin, self).__init__()
         LOG.debug("Starting service plugin for NSX L2Gateway")
-        self._nsx_l2gw_driver = cfg.CONF.NSX.nsx_l2gw_driver
+        self._nsx_l2gw_driver = cfg.CONF.nsx_l2gw_driver
         if not getattr(self, "_nsx_l2gw_driver"):
-            raise cfg.RequiredOptError("nsx_l2gw_driver", "NSX")
+            raise cfg.RequiredOptError("nsx_l2gw_driver")
         self._driver = importutils.import_object(self._nsx_l2gw_driver)
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/vmware/services/l2gateway/test_nsxv3_driver.py b/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/vmware/services/l2gateway/test_nsxv3_driver.py
index f3327dbd6d..a0b417cb76 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/vmware/services/l2gateway/test_nsxv3_driver.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/vmware/services/l2gateway/test_nsxv3_driver.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class TestNsxV3L2GatewayDriver(test_l2gw_db.L2GWTestCase,
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestNsxV3L2GatewayDriver, self).setUp()
         cfg.CONF.set_override("nsx_l2gw_driver",
-                              NSX_V3_L2GW_DRIVER_CLASS_PATH, 'NSX')
+                              NSX_V3_L2GW_DRIVER_CLASS_PATH)
         self.core_plugin = importutils.import_object(NSX_V3_PLUGIN_CLASS)
         self.l2gw_plugin = l2gw_plugin.NsxL2GatewayPlugin()
         self.driver = nsx_v3_driver.NsxV3Driver()