diff --git a/tempest/api/network/admin/test_routers_dvr.py b/tempest/api/network/admin/test_routers_dvr.py
index 9e2d080..365698d 100644
--- a/tempest/api/network/admin/test_routers_dvr.py
+++ b/tempest/api/network/admin/test_routers_dvr.py
@@ -89,7 +89,9 @@
         attribute will be set to True
         """
         name = data_utils.rand_name('router')
-        router = self.admin_client.create_router(name, distributed=False)
+        # router needs to be in admin state down in order to be upgraded to DVR
+        router = self.admin_client.create_router(name, distributed=False,
+                                                 admin_state_up=False)
         self.addCleanup(self.admin_client.delete_router,
                         router['router']['id'])
         self.assertFalse(router['router']['distributed'])