diff --git a/neutron/services/metering/drivers/iptables/iptables_driver.py b/neutron/services/metering/drivers/iptables/iptables_driver.py
index 860fc73a7cc..dee7bc218e3 100644
--- a/neutron/services/metering/drivers/iptables/iptables_driver.py
+++ b/neutron/services/metering/drivers/iptables/iptables_driver.py
@@ -233,24 +233,22 @@ class IptablesMeteringDriver(abstract_driver.MeteringAbstractDriver):
 
                 label_chain = iptables_manager.get_chain_name(
                     WRAP_NAME + LABEL + label_id, wrap=False)
-                im.ipv4['filter'].add_chain(label_chain, wrap=False)
 
                 rules_chain = iptables_manager.get_chain_name(
                     WRAP_NAME + RULE + label_id, wrap=False)
-                im.ipv4['filter'].add_chain(rules_chain, wrap=False)
-                im.ipv4['filter'].add_rule(
-                    TOP_CHAIN, '-j ' + rules_chain, wrap=False)
 
-                im.ipv4['filter'].add_rule(
-                    label_chain, '', wrap=False)
+                exists = rm.metering_labels.get(label_id)
+                if not exists:
+                    self._create_metering_label_chain(rm,
+                                                      label_chain,
+                                                      rules_chain)
+                    rm.metering_labels[label_id] = label
 
                 rules = label.get('rules')
                 if rules:
                     self._process_metering_label_rules(
                         rules, label_chain, rules_chain, ext_dev, im)
 
-                rm.metering_labels[label_id] = label
-
     def _process_associate_metering_label(self, router):
         self._update_router(router)
         rm = self.routers.get(router['id'])
@@ -319,9 +317,18 @@ class IptablesMeteringDriver(abstract_driver.MeteringAbstractDriver):
     def _remove_metering_label_rule(self, router):
         self._process_metering_rule_action(router, 'delete')
 
+    def _create_metering_label_chain(self, rm, label_chain, rules_chain):
+        rm.iptables_manager.ipv4['filter'].add_chain(label_chain, wrap=False)
+        rm.iptables_manager.ipv4['filter'].add_chain(rules_chain, wrap=False)
+        rm.iptables_manager.ipv4['filter'].add_rule(
+            TOP_CHAIN, '-j ' + rules_chain, wrap=False)
+        rm.iptables_manager.ipv4['filter'].add_rule(
+            label_chain, '', wrap=False)
+
     def _process_metering_rule_action_based_on_ns(
         self, router, action, ext_dev, im):
         '''Process metering rule actions based specific namespaces.'''
+        rm = self.routers.get(router['id'])
         with IptablesManagerTransaction(im):
             labels = router.get(constants.METERING_LABEL_KEY, [])
             for label in labels:
@@ -331,6 +338,14 @@ class IptablesMeteringDriver(abstract_driver.MeteringAbstractDriver):
 
                 rules_chain = iptables_manager.get_chain_name(
                     WRAP_NAME + RULE + label_id, wrap=False)
+
+                exists = rm.metering_labels.get(label_id)
+                if action == 'create' and not exists:
+                    self._create_metering_label_chain(rm,
+                                                      label_chain,
+                                                      rules_chain)
+                    rm.metering_labels[label_id] = label
+
                 rule = label.get('rule')
                 if rule:
                     if action == 'create':
diff --git a/neutron/tests/unit/services/metering/drivers/test_iptables.py b/neutron/tests/unit/services/metering/drivers/test_iptables.py
index 3044a921581..3ea0eb48464 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/unit/services/metering/drivers/test_iptables.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/unit/services/metering/drivers/test_iptables.py
@@ -104,6 +104,22 @@ TEST_ROUTERS_WITH_ONE_RULE = [
      'tenant_id': '6c5f5d2a1fa2441e88e35422926f48e8'},
 ]
 
+TEST_ROUTERS_WITH_NEW_LABEL = [
+    {'_metering_labels': [
+        {'id': 'e27fe2df-376e-4ac7-ae13-92f050a21f84',
+         'rule': {
+             'direction': 'ingress',
+             'excluded': False,
+             'id': '7f1a261f-2489-4ed1-870c-a62754501379',
+             'metering_label_id': 'e27fe2df-376e-4ac7-ae13-92f050a21f84',
+             'remote_ip_prefix': '50.0.0.0/24'}}],
+     'admin_state_up': True,
+     'gw_port_id': '6d411f48-ecc7-45e0-9ece-3b5bdb54fcee',
+     'id': '473ec392-1711-44e3-b008-3251ccfc5099',
+     'name': 'router1',
+     'status': 'ACTIVE',
+     'tenant_id': '6c5f5d2a1fa2441e88e35422926f48e8'}]
+
 
 class IptablesDriverTestCase(base.BaseTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
@@ -440,7 +456,35 @@ class IptablesDriverTestCase(base.BaseTestCase):
                                     '-d 40.0.0.0/24 -o qg-7d411f48-ec'
                                     ' -j neutron-meter-l-eeef45da-c60',
                                     wrap=False, top=False),
+                ]
+        self.v4filter_inst.assert_has_calls(calls)
 
+    def test_add_metering_label_rule_without_label(self):
+        new_routers_rules = TEST_ROUTERS_WITH_NEW_LABEL
+        # clear all the metering labels
+        for r in TEST_ROUTERS:
+            rm = iptables_driver.RouterWithMetering(self.metering.conf, r)
+            rm.metering_labels = {}
+
+        self.metering.update_routers(None, TEST_ROUTERS)
+        self.metering.add_metering_label_rule(None, new_routers_rules)
+        calls = [
+                 mock.call.add_chain('neutron-meter-l-e27fe2df-376',
+                                     wrap=False),
+                 mock.call.add_chain('neutron-meter-r-e27fe2df-376',
+                                     wrap=False),
+                 mock.call.add_rule('neutron-meter-FORWARD',
+                                    '-j neutron-meter-r-e27fe2df-376',
+                                    wrap=False),
+                 mock.call.add_rule('neutron-meter-l-e27fe2df-376',
+                                    '',
+                                    wrap=False),
+                 mock.call.add_rule('neutron-meter-r-e27fe2df-376',
+                                    '-s 50.0.0.0/24 '
+                                    '-i qg-6d411f48-ec '
+                                    '-j neutron-meter-l-e27fe2df-376',
+                                    top=False,
+                                    wrap=False)
                 ]
         self.v4filter_inst.assert_has_calls(calls)