diff --git a/manila/db/sqlalchemy/api.py b/manila/db/sqlalchemy/api.py
index f35397f3..f8f08617 100644
--- a/manila/db/sqlalchemy/api.py
+++ b/manila/db/sqlalchemy/api.py
@@ -2902,6 +2902,11 @@ def export_location_metadata_update(context, export_location_uuid, metadata,
         # that will not take effect using one session and we will rewrite,
         # in that case, single record - first one added with this call.
         session = get_session()
+
+        if meta_value is None:
+            LOG.warning("%s should be properly defined in the driver.",
+                        meta_key)
+
         item = {"value": meta_value, "updated_at": timeutils.utcnow()}
 
         meta_ref = _export_location_metadata_get_query(
diff --git a/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/cluster_mode/lib_base.py b/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/cluster_mode/lib_base.py
index 3ddf85e2..fc002cc4 100644
--- a/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/cluster_mode/lib_base.py
+++ b/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/cluster_mode/lib_base.py
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ class NetAppCmodeFileStorageLibrary(object):
             if home_node:
                 preferred = interface.get('home-node') == home_node
             else:
-                preferred = None
+                preferred = False
 
             addresses[address] = {
                 'is_admin_only': is_admin_only,
diff --git a/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/cluster_mode/test_lib_base.py b/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/cluster_mode/test_lib_base.py
index 510ad016..acb99197 100644
--- a/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/cluster_mode/test_lib_base.py
+++ b/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/cluster_mode/test_lib_base.py
@@ -1120,7 +1120,7 @@ class NetAppFileStorageLibraryTestCase(test.TestCase):
 
         expected = copy.deepcopy(fake.INTERFACE_ADDRESSES_WITH_METADATA)
         for key, value in expected.items():
-            value['preferred'] = None
+            value['preferred'] = False
 
         self.assertEqual(expected, result)
         mock_get_aggregate_node.assert_called_once_with(fake.POOL_NAME)
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/bug-1703660-fix-netapp-driver-preferred-state-0ce1a62961cded35.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1703660-fix-netapp-driver-preferred-state-0ce1a62961cded35.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..203aca70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1703660-fix-netapp-driver-preferred-state-0ce1a62961cded35.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixed the NetApp driver to report the correct value of the "preferred"
+    export location metadata where it cannot determine if there are any
+    "preferred" export locations.