diff --git a/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/base.py b/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/base.py
index 7af37119..99fa946a 100644
--- a/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/base.py
+++ b/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/base.py
@@ -1221,6 +1221,16 @@ class BaseNetworkTest(test.BaseTestCase):
         client = client or ndp_proxy.get('client') or cls.client
         client.delete_ndp_proxy(ndp_proxy['id'])
 
+    @classmethod
+    def get_loaded_network_extensions(cls):
+        """Return the network service loaded extensions
+
+        :return: list of strings with the alias of the network service loaded
+                 extensions.
+        """
+        body = cls.client.list_extensions()
+        return [net_ext['alias'] for net_ext in body['extensions']]
+
 
 class BaseAdminNetworkTest(BaseNetworkTest):
 
diff --git a/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/test_subnets.py b/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/test_subnets.py
index f7a38a47..23574eea 100644
--- a/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/test_subnets.py
+++ b/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/test_subnets.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 #    under the License.
 
 import netaddr
-from tempest.common import utils as tutils
 from tempest.lib import decorators
 
 from neutron_tempest_plugin.api import base
@@ -25,8 +24,6 @@ class SubnetsSearchCriteriaTest(base.BaseSearchCriteriaTest):
 
     @classmethod
     def resource_setup(cls):
-        if tutils.is_extension_enabled('subnet-external-network', 'network'):
-            cls.list_kwargs['router:external'] = False
         super(SubnetsSearchCriteriaTest, cls).resource_setup()
         net = cls.create_network(network_name='subnet-search-test-net')
         for name in cls.resource_names:
@@ -70,6 +67,8 @@ class SubnetsSearchCriteriaTest(base.BaseSearchCriteriaTest):
 
     @decorators.idempotent_id('c0f9280b-9d81-4728-a967-6be22659d4c8')
     def test_list_validation_filters(self):
+        if 'subnet-external-network' in self.get_loaded_network_extensions():
+            self.list_kwargs['router:external'] = False
         self._test_list_validation_filters(self.list_kwargs)
         self._test_list_validation_filters({
             'unknown_filter': 'value'}, filter_is_valid=False)