diff --git a/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py b/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
index 313d6465198..741f3eeb899 100644
--- a/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
+++ b/neutron/plugins/ml2/plugin.py
@@ -1680,24 +1680,53 @@ class Ml2Plugin(db_base_plugin_v2.NeutronDbPluginV2,
         return {d: self._bind_port_if_needed(pctx) if pctx else None
                 for d, pctx in result.items()}
 
-    @utils.transaction_guard
-    @db_api.retry_if_session_inactive()
     def update_port_status(self, context, port_id, status, host=None,
                            network=None):
         """
         Returns port_id (non-truncated uuid) if the port exists.
         Otherwise returns None.
-        network can be passed in to avoid another get_network call if
-        one was already performed by the caller.
+        'network' is deprecated and has no effect
         """
-        updated = False
-        session = context.session
-        with session.begin(subtransactions=True):
-            port = db.get_port(context, port_id)
-            if not port:
+        full = db.partial_port_ids_to_full_ids(context, [port_id])
+        if port_id not in full:
+            return None
+        port_id = full[port_id]
+        return self.update_port_statuses(
+            context, {port_id: status}, host)[port_id]
+
+    @utils.transaction_guard
+    @db_api.retry_if_session_inactive()
+    def update_port_statuses(self, context, port_id_to_status, host=None):
+        result = {}
+        port_ids = port_id_to_status.keys()
+        port_dbs_by_id = db.get_port_db_objects(context, port_ids)
+        for port_id, status in port_id_to_status.items():
+            if not port_dbs_by_id.get(port_id):
                 LOG.debug("Port %(port)s update to %(val)s by agent not found",
                           {'port': port_id, 'val': status})
-                return None
+                result[port_id] = None
+                continue
+            result[port_id] = self._safe_update_individual_port_db_status(
+                context, port_dbs_by_id[port_id], status, host)
+        return result
+
+    def _safe_update_individual_port_db_status(self, context, port,
+                                               status, host):
+        port_id = port.id
+        try:
+            return self._update_individual_port_db_status(
+                context, port, status, host)
+        except Exception:
+            with excutils.save_and_reraise_exception() as ectx:
+                # don't reraise if port doesn't exist anymore
+                ectx.reraise = bool(db.get_port(context, port_id))
+
+    def _update_individual_port_db_status(self, context, port, status, host):
+        updated = False
+        network = None
+        port_id = port.id
+        with db_api.context_manager.writer.using(context):
+            context.session.add(port)  # bring port into writer session
             if (port.status != status and
                 port['device_owner'] != const.DEVICE_OWNER_DVR_INTERFACE):
                 original_port = self._make_port_dict(port)
@@ -1724,7 +1753,7 @@ class Ml2Plugin(db_base_plugin_v2.NeutronDbPluginV2,
 
         if (updated and
             port['device_owner'] == const.DEVICE_OWNER_DVR_INTERFACE):
-            with session.begin(subtransactions=True):
+            with db_api.context_manager.writer.using(context):
                 port = db.get_port(context, port_id)
                 if not port:
                     LOG.warning(_LW("Port %s not found during update"),
diff --git a/neutron/plugins/ml2/rpc.py b/neutron/plugins/ml2/rpc.py
index 3e289a08485..eda6dd66e51 100644
--- a/neutron/plugins/ml2/rpc.py
+++ b/neutron/plugins/ml2/rpc.py
@@ -194,9 +194,7 @@ class RpcCallbacks(type_tunnel.TunnelRpcCallbackMixin):
         # filter out any without status changes
         new_status_map = {p: s for p, s in new_status_map.items() if s}
         try:
-            for port_id, new_status in new_status_map.items():
-                plugin.update_port_status(rpc_context, port_id,
-                                          new_status, host)
+            plugin.update_port_statuses(rpc_context, new_status_map, host)
         except Exception:
             LOG.exception(_LE("Failure updating statuses, retrying all"))
             failed_devices = devices_to_fetch
diff --git a/neutron/tests/unit/plugins/ml2/test_plugin.py b/neutron/tests/unit/plugins/ml2/test_plugin.py
index 49d88ddd015..bca31e9c8c1 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/unit/plugins/ml2/test_plugin.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/unit/plugins/ml2/test_plugin.py
@@ -855,10 +855,10 @@ class TestMl2PortsV2(test_plugin.TestPortsV2, Ml2PluginV2TestCase):
         plugin = directory.get_plugin()
         with self.port() as port:
             net = plugin.get_network(ctx, port['port']['network_id'])
-            with mock.patch.object(plugin, 'get_network') as get_net:
+            with mock.patch.object(plugin, 'get_networks') as get_nets:
                 plugin.update_port_status(ctx, port['port']['id'], 'UP',
                                           network=net)
-                self.assertFalse(get_net.called)
+                self.assertFalse(get_nets.called)
 
     def test_update_port_mac(self):
         self.check_update_port_mac(