diff --git a/ironic/common/neutron.py b/ironic/common/neutron.py
index b27488744b..81c6ff7f67 100644
--- a/ironic/common/neutron.py
+++ b/ironic/common/neutron.py
@@ -410,6 +410,12 @@ def validate_port_info(node, port):
     :param port: Ironic port object.
     :returns: True if port info is valid, False otherwise.
     """
+    # Note(moshele): client-id in the port extra field indicates an InfiniBand
+    # port.  In this case we don't require local_link_connection to be
+    # populated because the network topology is discoverable by the Infiniband
+    # Subnet Manager.
+    if port.extra.get('client-id'):
+        return True
     if (node.network_interface == 'neutron' and
             not port.local_link_connection):
         LOG.warning(_LW("The local_link_connection is required for "
diff --git a/ironic/tests/unit/common/test_neutron.py b/ironic/tests/unit/common/test_neutron.py
index a6094e019e..a18699a158 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/unit/common/test_neutron.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/unit/common/test_neutron.py
@@ -507,6 +507,33 @@ class TestNeutronNetworkActions(db_base.DbTestCase):
         self.assertTrue(res)
         self.assertFalse(log_mock.warning.called)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(neutron, 'LOG', autospec=True)
+    def test_validate_port_info_flat_interface_with_client_id(self, log_mock):
+        self.node.network_interface = 'flat'
+        self.node.save()
+        llc = {}
+        port = object_utils.create_test_port(
+            self.context, node_id=self.node.id, uuid=uuidutils.generate_uuid(),
+            address='52:54:00:cf:2d:33', local_link_connection=llc,
+            extra={'client-id': self._CLIENT_ID})
+        res = neutron.validate_port_info(self.node, port)
+        self.assertTrue(res)
+        self.assertFalse(log_mock.warning.called)
+
+    @mock.patch.object(neutron, 'LOG', autospec=True)
+    def test_validate_port_info_neutron_interface_with_client_id(
+            self, log_mock):
+        self.node.network_interface = 'neutron'
+        self.node.save()
+        llc = {}
+        port = object_utils.create_test_port(
+            self.context, node_id=self.node.id, uuid=uuidutils.generate_uuid(),
+            address='52:54:00:cf:2d:33', local_link_connection=llc,
+            extra={'client-id': self._CLIENT_ID})
+        res = neutron.validate_port_info(self.node, port)
+        self.assertTrue(res)
+        self.assertFalse(log_mock.warning.called)
+
 
 @mock.patch.object(neutron, 'get_client', autospec=True)
 class TestValidateNetwork(base.TestCase):
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/dont-validate-local_link_connection-when-port-has-client-id-8e584586dc4fca50.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/dont-validate-local_link_connection-when-port-has-client-id-8e584586dc4fca50.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d7d83bb899
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/dont-validate-local_link_connection-when-port-has-client-id-8e584586dc4fca50.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixes an issue with validation of Infiniband ports. Infiniband ports do not
+    require the ``local_link_connection`` field to be populated as the network
+    topology is discoverable by the Infiniband Subnet Manager. See `bug 1753222
+    <https://launchpad.net/bugs/1753222>`_ for details.