diff --git a/neutron/db/l3_db.py b/neutron/db/l3_db.py
index 501723308b6..5c487958922 100644
--- a/neutron/db/l3_db.py
+++ b/neutron/db/l3_db.py
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ class RouterPort(model_base.BASEV2):
     port_type = sa.Column(sa.String(255))
     port = orm.relationship(
         models_v2.Port,
-        backref=orm.backref('routerport', uselist=False, cascade="all,delete"))
+        backref=orm.backref('routerport', uselist=False, cascade="all,delete"),
+        lazy='joined')
 
 
 class Router(model_base.BASEV2, models_v2.HasId, models_v2.HasTenant):