diff --git a/etc/tempest.conf.sample b/etc/tempest.conf.sample
index a70a7ab..02bfdcb 100644
--- a/etc/tempest.conf.sample
+++ b/etc/tempest.conf.sample
@@ -193,6 +193,9 @@
 # for each tenant to have their own router.
 public_router_id = {$PUBLIC_ROUTER_ID}
 
+# Whether or not quantum is expected to be available
+quantum_available = false
+
 [volume]
 # This section contains the configuration options used when executing tests
 # against the OpenStack Block Storage API service
diff --git a/tempest/config.py b/tempest/config.py
index 856be16..2f4ce6a 100644
--- a/tempest/config.py
+++ b/tempest/config.py
@@ -280,6 +280,9 @@
                default="",
                help="Id of the public router that provides external "
                     "connectivity"),
+    cfg.BoolOpt('quantum_available',
+                default=False,
+                help="Whether or not quantum is expected to be available"),
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/tempest/tests/network/base.py b/tempest/tests/network/base.py
index 4cc8b29..1b09513 100644
--- a/tempest/tests/network/base.py
+++ b/tempest/tests/network/base.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 
 from tempest import clients
 from tempest.common.utils.data_utils import rand_name
-from tempest import exceptions
 import tempest.test
 
 
@@ -27,15 +26,9 @@
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         os = clients.Manager()
-        client = os.network_client
 
-        # Validate that there is even an endpoint configured
-        # for networks, and mark the attr for skipping if not
-        try:
-            client.list_networks()
-        except exceptions.EndpointNotFound:
-            skip_msg = "No OpenStack Network API endpoint"
-            raise cls.skipException(skip_msg)
+        if not os.config.network.quantum_available:
+            raise cls.skipException("Quantum support is required")
 
     @classmethod
     def tearDownClass(cls):