diff --git a/functions-common b/functions-common
index 7fbb50ef57..d15999ef65 100644
--- a/functions-common
+++ b/functions-common
@@ -2258,6 +2258,14 @@ function maskip {
     echo $subnet
 }
 
+function is_provider_network {
+    if [ "$Q_USE_PROVIDER_NETWORKING" == "True" ]; then
+        return 0
+    fi
+    return 1
+}
+
+
 # Return the current python as "python<major>.<minor>"
 function python_version {
     local python_version
diff --git a/lib/neutron_plugins/services/l3 b/lib/neutron_plugins/services/l3
index 6d518e25d8..a36219ad17 100644
--- a/lib/neutron_plugins/services/l3
+++ b/lib/neutron_plugins/services/l3
@@ -432,13 +432,6 @@ function _neutron_configure_router_v6 {
     fi
 }
 
-function is_provider_network {
-    if [ "$Q_USE_PROVIDER_NETWORKING" == "True" ]; then
-        return 0
-    fi
-    return 1
-}
-
 function is_networking_extension_supported {
     local extension=$1
     # TODO(sc68cal) cache this instead of calling every time
diff --git a/lib/tempest b/lib/tempest
index 0305d8ac9e..6595d803ea 100644
--- a/lib/tempest
+++ b/lib/tempest
@@ -421,12 +421,17 @@ function configure_tempest {
     iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG scenario ari_img_file "cirros-${CIRROS_VERSION}-${CIRROS_ARCH}-initrd"
     iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG scenario aki_img_file "cirros-${CIRROS_VERSION}-${CIRROS_ARCH}-vmlinuz"
 
+    # If using provider networking, use the physical network for validation rather than private
+    TEMPEST_SSH_NETWORK_NAME=$PRIVATE_NETWORK_NAME
+    if is_provider_network; then
+        TEMPEST_SSH_NETWORK_NAME=$PHYSICAL_NETWORK
+    fi
     # Validation
     iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG validation run_validation ${TEMPEST_RUN_VALIDATION:-False}
     iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG validation ip_version_for_ssh 4
     iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG validation ssh_timeout $BUILD_TIMEOUT
     iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG validation image_ssh_user ${DEFAULT_INSTANCE_USER:-cirros}
-    iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG validation network_for_ssh $PRIVATE_NETWORK_NAME
+    iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG validation network_for_ssh $TEMPEST_SSH_NETWORK_NAME
 
     # Volume
     # TODO(obutenko): Remove snapshot_backup when liberty-eol happens.