diff --git a/neutron/conf/service.py b/neutron/conf/service.py
index 6dcbe77d9b3..5c4a3289753 100644
--- a/neutron/conf/service.py
+++ b/neutron/conf/service.py
@@ -24,19 +24,23 @@ SERVICE_OPTS = [
                default=40,
                help=_('Seconds between running periodic tasks.')),
     cfg.IntOpt('api_workers',
+               min=1,
                help=_('Number of separate API worker processes for service. '
                       'If not specified, the default is equal to the number '
                       'of CPUs available for best performance, capped by '
                       'potential RAM usage.')),
     cfg.IntOpt('rpc_workers',
+               min=0,
                help=_('Number of RPC worker processes for service. '
                       'If not specified, the default is equal to half the '
                       'number of API workers. If set to 0, no RPC worker '
                       'is launched.')),
     cfg.IntOpt('rpc_state_report_workers',
                default=1,
+               min=0,
                help=_('Number of RPC worker processes dedicated to the state '
-                      'reports queue.')),
+                      'reports queue. If set to 0, no dedicated RPC worker '
+                      'for state reports queue is launched.')),
     cfg.IntOpt('periodic_fuzzy_delay',
                default=5,
                help=_('Range of seconds to randomly delay when starting the '
diff --git a/neutron/tests/unit/test_service.py b/neutron/tests/unit/test_service.py
index 3979018d67a..96381700b86 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/unit/test_service.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/unit/test_service.py
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ class TestRunWsgiApp(base.BaseTestCase):
             workers=expected_passed_value)
         self.assertEqual(expected_call, start_call)
 
-    def test_api_workers_zero(self):
-        self._test_api_workers(0, 0)
+    def test_api_workers_one(self):
+        self._test_api_workers(1, 1)
 
     def test_api_workers_default(self):
         self._test_api_workers(None, self.worker_count)
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class TestRunWsgiApp(base.BaseTestCase):
         self._test_api_workers(42, 42)
 
     def test_start_all_workers(self):
-        cfg.CONF.set_override('api_workers', 0)
+        cfg.CONF.set_override('api_workers', 1)
         mock.patch.object(service, '_get_rpc_workers').start()
         mock.patch.object(service, '_get_plugins_workers').start()
         mock.patch.object(service, '_start_workers').start()
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/min-workers-8705bf4f76c8b70d.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/min-workers-8705bf4f76c8b70d.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5f8f5a44318
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/min-workers-8705bf4f76c8b70d.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    The ``[DEFAULT] api_workers`` option no longer accepts 0 or negative
+    values. Previously 0 or a negative value was translated to 1 and
+    neutron-server launched 1 api worker.
+
+  - |
+    The ``[DEFAULT] rpc_workers`` option and
+    the ``[DEFAULT] rpc_state_report_workers`` option no longer accept negative
+    values. To disable these workers, set these options to 0.