diff --git a/neutron/common/cache_utils.py b/neutron/common/cache_utils.py
index 97c46110b1a..0e7d6518a21 100644
--- a/neutron/common/cache_utils.py
+++ b/neutron/common/cache_utils.py
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ def _get_cache_region_for_legacy(url):
     backend = parsed.scheme
 
     if backend == 'memory':
-        backend = 'oslo_cache.dict'
         query = parsed.query
         # NOTE(fangzhen): The following NOTE and code is from legacy
         # oslo-incubator cache module. Previously reside in neutron at
@@ -78,11 +77,17 @@ def _get_cache_region_for_legacy(url):
         if not query and '?' in parsed.path:
             query = parsed.path.split('?', 1)[-1]
         parameters = parse.parse_qs(query)
-        expiration_time = int(parameters.get('default_ttl', [0])[0])
 
-        region = cache.create_region()
-        region.configure(backend, expiration_time=expiration_time)
-        return region
+        conf = cfg.ConfigOpts()
+        register_oslo_configs(conf)
+        cache_conf_dict = {
+            'enabled': True,
+            'backend': 'oslo_cache.dict',
+            'expiration_time': int(parameters.get('default_ttl', [0])[0]),
+        }
+        for k, v in cache_conf_dict.items():
+            conf.set_override(k, v, group='cache')
+        return _get_cache_region(conf)
     else:
         raise RuntimeError(_('Old style configuration can use only memory '
                              '(dict) backend'))
@@ -108,6 +113,8 @@ class cache_method_results(object):
         key = (func_name,) + args
         if kwargs:
             key += utils.dict2tuple(kwargs)
+        # oslo.cache expects a string or a buffer
+        key = str(key)
         try:
             item = target_self._cache.get(key)
         except TypeError:
diff --git a/neutron/tests/unit/agent/metadata/test_agent.py b/neutron/tests/unit/agent/metadata/test_agent.py
index 25277032dcd..1083c2e1079 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/unit/agent/metadata/test_agent.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/unit/agent/metadata/test_agent.py
@@ -51,6 +51,16 @@ class CacheConfFixture(ConfFixture):
         self.config(cache_url='memory://?default_ttl=5')
 
 
+class NewCacheConfFixture(ConfFixture):
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(NewCacheConfFixture, self).setUp()
+        self.config(
+            group='cache',
+            enabled=True,
+            backend='oslo_cache.dict',
+            expiration_time=5)
+
+
 class TestMetadataProxyHandlerBase(base.BaseTestCase):
     fake_conf = cfg.CONF
     fake_conf_fixture = ConfFixture(fake_conf)
@@ -96,9 +106,7 @@ class TestMetadataProxyHandlerRpc(TestMetadataProxyHandlerBase):
         self.assertEqual(expected, ports)
 
 
-class TestMetadataProxyHandlerCache(TestMetadataProxyHandlerBase):
-    fake_conf = cfg.CONF
-    fake_conf_fixture = CacheConfFixture(fake_conf)
+class _TestMetadataProxyHandlerCacheMixin(object):
 
     def test_call(self):
         req = mock.Mock()
@@ -411,6 +419,18 @@ class TestMetadataProxyHandlerCache(TestMetadataProxyHandlerBase):
         )
 
 
+class TestMetadataProxyHandlerCache(TestMetadataProxyHandlerBase,
+                                    _TestMetadataProxyHandlerCacheMixin):
+    fake_conf = cfg.CONF
+    fake_conf_fixture = CacheConfFixture(fake_conf)
+
+
+class TestMetadataProxyHandlerNewCache(TestMetadataProxyHandlerBase,
+                                       _TestMetadataProxyHandlerCacheMixin):
+    fake_conf = cfg.CONF
+    fake_conf_fixture = NewCacheConfFixture(fake_conf)
+
+
 class TestMetadataProxyHandlerNoCache(TestMetadataProxyHandlerCache):
     fake_conf = cfg.CONF
     fake_conf_fixture = ConfFixture(fake_conf)
diff --git a/neutron/tests/unit/common/test_cache_utils.py b/neutron/tests/unit/common/test_cache_utils.py
index d1e20dc8c88..4c4c334bf65 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/unit/common/test_cache_utils.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/unit/common/test_cache_utils.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class TestCachingDecorator(base.BaseTestCase):
         self.decor._cache.get.return_value = self.not_cached
         retval = self.decor.func(*args, **kwargs)
         self.decor._cache.set.assert_called_once_with(
-            expected_key, self.decor.func_retval)
+            str(expected_key), self.decor.func_retval)
         self.assertEqual(self.decor.func_retval, retval)
 
     def test_cache_hit(self):
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class TestCachingDecorator(base.BaseTestCase):
         retval = self.decor.func(*args, **kwargs)
         self.assertFalse(self.decor._cache.set.called)
         self.assertEqual(self.decor._cache.get.return_value, retval)
-        self.decor._cache.get.assert_called_once_with(expected_key)
+        self.decor._cache.get.assert_called_once_with(str(expected_key))
 
     def test_get_unhashable(self):
         expected_key = (self.func_name, [1], 2)
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class TestCachingDecorator(base.BaseTestCase):
         retval = self.decor.func([1], 2)
         self.assertFalse(self.decor._cache.set.called)
         self.assertEqual(self.decor.func_retval, retval)
-        self.decor._cache.get.assert_called_once_with(expected_key)
+        self.decor._cache.get.assert_called_once_with(str(expected_key))
 
     def test_missing_cache(self):
         delattr(self.decor, '_cache')