diff --git a/nova/network/model.py b/nova/network/model.py
index 3b35d53c06a..9954c9ecf14 100644
--- a/nova/network/model.py
+++ b/nova/network/model.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ def ensure_string_keys(d):
 # class
 VIF_DETAILS_PORT_FILTER = 'port_filter'
 VIF_DETAILS_OVS_HYBRID_PLUG = 'ovs_hybrid_plug'
+VIF_DETAILS_VHOSTUSER_VROUTER_PLUG = 'vhostuser_vrouter_plug'
 VIF_DETAILS_PHYSICAL_NETWORK = 'physical_network'
 VIF_DETAILS_BRIDGE_NAME = 'bridge_name'
 
diff --git a/nova/network/os_vif_util.py b/nova/network/os_vif_util.py
index 54107a06609..594cb49fd42 100644
--- a/nova/network/os_vif_util.py
+++ b/nova/network/os_vif_util.py
@@ -323,7 +323,21 @@ def _nova_to_osvif_vif_midonet(vif):
 
 # VIF_TYPE_VHOSTUSER = 'vhostuser'
 def _nova_to_osvif_vif_vhostuser(vif):
-    raise NotImplementedError()
+    if vif['details'].get(model.VIF_DETAILS_VHOSTUSER_VROUTER_PLUG, False):
+        vif_details = vif['details']
+        mode = vif_details.get(model.VIF_DETAILS_VHOSTUSER_MODE,
+                               'server')
+        sock_path = vif_details.get(model.VIF_DETAILS_VHOSTUSER_SOCKET)
+        if sock_path is None:
+            raise exception.VifDetailsMissingVhostuserSockPath(
+                                                        vif_id=vif['id'])
+        obj = _get_vif_instance(vif, objects.vif.VIFVHostUser,
+                                mode=mode,
+                                path=sock_path,
+                                plugin="vrouter", vif_name=_get_vif_name(vif))
+        return obj
+    else:
+        raise NotImplementedError()
 
 
 # VIF_TYPE_VROUTER = 'vrouter'
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
index 1c99fcbe78f..e958337c456 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/vif.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 from os_vif import exception as osv_exception
 from oslo_concurrency import processutils
 from oslo_log import log as logging
+from oslo_config import cfg
 
 import nova.conf
 from nova import exception
@@ -445,6 +446,9 @@ def get_config_vrouter(self, instance, vif, image_meta,
         designer.set_vif_bandwidth_config(conf, inst_type)
         return conf
 
+    def _set_config_VIFVHostUser(self, instance, vif, conf):
+        designer.set_vif_host_backend_vhostuser_config(conf, vif.mode, vif.path)
+
     def _set_config_VIFBridge(self, instance, vif, conf):
         conf.net_type = "bridge"
         conf.source_dev = vif.bridge_name