diff --git a/neutron/agent/linux/dhcp.py b/neutron/agent/linux/dhcp.py
index f83d5fff13..84de415be4 100644
--- a/neutron/agent/linux/dhcp.py
+++ b/neutron/agent/linux/dhcp.py
@@ -77,17 +77,46 @@ WIN2k3_STATIC_DNS = 249
 NS_PREFIX = 'qdhcp-'
 
 
-class DictModel(object):
+class DictModel(dict):
     """Convert dict into an object that provides attribute access to values."""
-    def __init__(self, d):
-        for key, value in d.iteritems():
-            if isinstance(value, list):
-                value = [DictModel(item) if isinstance(item, dict) else item
-                         for item in value]
-            elif isinstance(value, dict):
-                value = DictModel(value)
 
-            setattr(self, key, value)
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        """Convert dict values to DictModel values."""
+        super(DictModel, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        def needs_upgrade(item):
+            """Check if `item` is a dict and needs to be changed to DictModel.
+            """
+            return isinstance(item, dict) and not isinstance(item, DictModel)
+
+        def upgrade(item):
+            """Upgrade item if it needs to be upgraded."""
+            if needs_upgrade(item):
+                return DictModel(item)
+            else:
+                return item
+
+        for key, value in self.iteritems():
+            if isinstance(value, (list, tuple)):
+                # Keep the same type but convert dicts to DictModels
+                self[key] = type(value)(
+                    (upgrade(item) for item in value)
+                )
+            elif needs_upgrade(value):
+                # Change dict instance values to DictModel instance values
+                self[key] = DictModel(value)
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        try:
+            return self[name]
+        except KeyError as e:
+            raise AttributeError(e)
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name, value):
+        self[name] = value
+
+    def __delattr__(self, name):
+        del self[name]
 
 
 class NetModel(DictModel):
diff --git a/neutron/tests/unit/test_dhcp_agent.py b/neutron/tests/unit/test_dhcp_agent.py
index ae99dac6cb..0ef431838a 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/unit/test_dhcp_agent.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/unit/test_dhcp_agent.py
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ class TestDhcpAgentEventHandler(base.BaseTestCase):
                                                  fake_network)
 
     def test_port_update_end(self):
-        payload = dict(port=vars(fake_port2))
+        payload = dict(port=fake_port2)
         self.cache.get_network_by_id.return_value = fake_network
         self.cache.get_port_by_id.return_value = fake_port2
         self.dhcp.port_update_end(None, payload)
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ class TestDhcpAgentEventHandler(base.BaseTestCase):
                                                  fake_network)
 
     def test_port_update_change_ip_on_port(self):
-        payload = dict(port=vars(fake_port1))
+        payload = dict(port=fake_port1)
         self.cache.get_network_by_id.return_value = fake_network
         updated_fake_port1 = copy.deepcopy(fake_port1)
         updated_fake_port1.fixed_ips[0].ip_address = '172.9.9.99'