diff --git a/nova/exception.py b/nova/exception.py
index 1d6077670920..40b82bf58345 100644
--- a/nova/exception.py
+++ b/nova/exception.py
@@ -832,6 +832,10 @@ class VifDetailsMissingMacvtapParameters(Invalid):
                 " correct.")
 
 
+class OvsConfigurationFailure(NovaException):
+    msg_fmt = _("OVS configuration failed with: %(inner_exception)s.")
+
+
 class DatastoreNotFound(NotFound):
     msg_fmt = _("Could not find the datastore reference(s) which the VM uses.")
 
diff --git a/nova/network/linux_net.py b/nova/network/linux_net.py
index da569b628fb0..e2f40ff3cbd9 100644
--- a/nova/network/linux_net.py
+++ b/nova/network/linux_net.py
@@ -1362,7 +1362,7 @@ def _ovs_vsctl(args):
     except Exception as e:
         LOG.error(_LE("Unable to execute %(cmd)s. Exception: %(exception)s"),
                   {'cmd': full_args, 'exception': e})
-        raise exception.AgentError(method=full_args)
+        raise exception.OvsConfigurationFailure(inner_exception=e)
 
 
 def create_ovs_vif_port(bridge, dev, iface_id, mac, instance_id, mtu=None):
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/network/test_linux_net.py b/nova/tests/unit/network/test_linux_net.py
index 0e2b1d28a428..2cbe02b4d3ca 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/network/test_linux_net.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/network/test_linux_net.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import calendar
 import datetime
 import os
+import re
 import time
 
 import mock
@@ -655,7 +656,7 @@ class LinuxNetworkTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
         self.flags(fake_network=False)
 
         def fake_execute(*args, **kwargs):
-            raise processutils.ProcessExecutionError('error')
+            raise processutils.ProcessExecutionError('specific_error')
 
         def fake_device_exists(*args, **kwargs):
             return False
@@ -663,9 +664,16 @@ class LinuxNetworkTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
         self.stubs.Set(utils, 'execute', fake_execute)
         self.stubs.Set(linux_net, 'device_exists', fake_device_exists)
         driver = linux_net.LinuxOVSInterfaceDriver()
-        self.assertRaises(exception.AgentError,
-                          driver.plug, {'uuid': 'fake_network_uuid'},
-                          'fake_mac')
+
+        exc = self.assertRaises(exception.OvsConfigurationFailure,
+                                driver.plug,
+                                {'uuid': 'fake_network_uuid'}, 'fake_mac')
+        self.assertRegex(
+            str(exc),
+            re.compile("OVS configuration failed with: .*specific_error.*",
+                       re.DOTALL))
+        self.assertIsInstance(exc.kwargs['inner_exception'],
+                              processutils.ProcessExecutionError)
 
     def test_vlan_override(self):
         """Makes sure vlan_interface flag overrides network bridge_interface.