diff --git a/hooks/neutron_ovs_utils.py b/hooks/neutron_ovs_utils.py
index 7c7b0cdf..c101b011 100644
--- a/hooks/neutron_ovs_utils.py
+++ b/hooks/neutron_ovs_utils.py
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ from charmhelpers.core.host import (
     init_is_systemd,
     group_exists,
     user_exists,
+    is_container,
+)
+from charmhelpers.core.kernel import (
+    modprobe,
 )
 
 from charmhelpers.fetch import (
@@ -257,6 +261,20 @@ def install_packages():
     if use_dpdk():
         enable_ovs_dpdk()
 
+    # NOTE(tpsilva): if we're using openvswitch driver, we need to explicitly
+    #                load the nf_conntrack_ipv4/6 module, since it won't be
+    #                loaded automatically in some cases. LP#1834213
+    if not is_container() and config('firewall-driver') == 'openvswitch':
+        try:
+            modprobe('nf_conntrack_ipv4', True)
+            modprobe('nf_conntrack_ipv6', True)
+        except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+            # Newer kernel versions (4.19+) don't have two modules for that, so
+            # only load nf_conntrack
+            log("This kernel does not have nf_conntrack_ipv4/6. "
+                "Loading nf_conntrack only.")
+            modprobe('nf_conntrack', True)
+
 
 def install_l3ha_packages():
     apt_update()
diff --git a/unit_tests/test_neutron_ovs_utils.py b/unit_tests/test_neutron_ovs_utils.py
index 45fc6bec..a0defe67 100644
--- a/unit_tests/test_neutron_ovs_utils.py
+++ b/unit_tests/test_neutron_ovs_utils.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import hashlib
+import subprocess
 
 from mock import MagicMock, patch, call
 from collections import OrderedDict
@@ -68,6 +69,8 @@ TO_PATCH = [
     'user_exists',
     'group_exists',
     'init_is_systemd',
+    'modprobe',
+    'is_container',
 ]
 
 head_pkg = 'linux-headers-3.15.0-5-generic'
@@ -120,6 +123,46 @@ class TestNeutronOVSUtils(CharmTestCase):
         self.apt_update.assert_called_with()
         self.apt_install.assert_called_with(self.filter_installed_packages(),
                                             fatal=True)
+        self.modprobe.assert_not_called()
+
+    @patch.object(nutils, 'determine_packages')
+    def test_install_packages_container(self, _determine_packages):
+        self.os_release.return_value = 'mitaka'
+        self.is_container.return_value = True
+        _determine_packages.return_value = 'randompkg'
+        nutils.install_packages()
+        self.apt_update.assert_called_with()
+        self.apt_install.assert_called_with(self.filter_installed_packages(),
+                                            fatal=True)
+        self.modprobe.assert_not_called()
+
+    @patch.object(nutils, 'determine_packages')
+    def test_install_packages_ovs_firewall(self, _determine_packages):
+        self.os_release.return_value = 'mitaka'
+        _determine_packages.return_value = 'randompkg'
+        self.is_container.return_value = False
+        self.test_config.set('firewall-driver', 'openvswitch')
+        nutils.install_packages()
+        self.apt_update.assert_called_with()
+        self.apt_install.assert_called_with(self.filter_installed_packages(),
+                                            fatal=True)
+        self.modprobe.assert_has_calls([call('nf_conntrack_ipv4', True),
+                                        call('nf_conntrack_ipv6', True)])
+
+    @patch.object(nutils, 'determine_packages')
+    def test_install_packages_ovs_fw_newer_kernel(self, _determine_packages):
+        self.os_release.return_value = 'mitaka'
+        _determine_packages.return_value = 'randompkg'
+        self.is_container.return_value = False
+        self.test_config.set('firewall-driver', 'openvswitch')
+        self.modprobe.side_effect = [subprocess.CalledProcessError(0, ""),
+                                     None]
+        nutils.install_packages()
+        self.apt_update.assert_called_with()
+        self.apt_install.assert_called_with(self.filter_installed_packages(),
+                                            fatal=True)
+        self.modprobe.assert_has_calls([call('nf_conntrack_ipv4', True),
+                                        call('nf_conntrack', True)])
 
     @patch.object(nutils, 'determine_packages')
     def test_install_packages_dkms_needed(self, _determine_packages):