diff --git a/nova/compute/utils.py b/nova/compute/utils.py
index 6c6c59be7d..4f5ba4b390 100644
--- a/nova/compute/utils.py
+++ b/nova/compute/utils.py
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ from nova.compute import power_state
 from nova.compute import task_states
 import nova.conf
 from nova import exception
-from nova.network import model as network_model
 from nova import notifications
 from nova.notifications.objects import aggregate as aggregate_notification
 from nova.notifications.objects import base as notification_base
@@ -491,9 +490,7 @@ def notify_about_host_update(context, event_suffix, host_payload):
 
 
 def get_nw_info_for_instance(instance):
-    if instance.info_cache is None:
-        return network_model.NetworkInfo.hydrate([])
-    return instance.info_cache.network_info
+    return instance.get_network_info()
 
 
 def refresh_info_cache_for_instance(context, instance):
diff --git a/nova/notifications/objects/instance.py b/nova/notifications/objects/instance.py
index fdf759cd5d..d61d6277ae 100644
--- a/nova/notifications/objects/instance.py
+++ b/nova/notifications/objects/instance.py
@@ -94,11 +94,8 @@ class InstancePayload(base.NotificationPayloadBase):
 
     def __init__(self, instance):
         super(InstancePayload, self).__init__()
-        # Note(gibi): ugly but needed to avoid cyclic import
-        from nova.compute import utils
-
-        self.ip_addresses = IpPayload.from_network_info(
-                utils.get_nw_info_for_instance(instance))
+        network_info = instance.get_network_info()
+        self.ip_addresses = IpPayload.from_network_info(network_info)
         self.flavor = flavor_payload.FlavorPayload(flavor=instance.flavor)
 
         self.populate_schema(instance=instance)
diff --git a/nova/objects/instance.py b/nova/objects/instance.py
index c45aee56b0..d7fb05effc 100644
--- a/nova/objects/instance.py
+++ b/nova/objects/instance.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from nova.db.sqlalchemy import api as db_api
 from nova.db.sqlalchemy import models
 from nova import exception
 from nova.i18n import _, _LE, _LW
+from nova.network import model as network_model
 from nova import notifications
 from nova import objects
 from nova.objects import base
@@ -1156,6 +1157,11 @@ class Instance(base.NovaPersistentObject, base.NovaObject,
         finally:
             self._normalize_cell_name()
 
+    def get_network_info(self):
+        if self.info_cache is None:
+            return network_model.NetworkInfo.hydrate([])
+        return self.info_cache.network_info
+
 
 def _make_instance_list(context, inst_list, db_inst_list, expected_attrs):
     get_fault = expected_attrs and 'fault' in expected_attrs
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_instance.py b/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_instance.py
index 0c2f83f1a4..4992f309c4 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_instance.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/objects/test_instance.py
@@ -825,6 +825,21 @@ class _TestInstanceObject(object):
         mock_get.assert_called_once_with(self.context, fake_uuid,
             columns_to_join=['info_cache'])
 
+    def test_get_network_info_with_cache(self):
+        info_cache = instance_info_cache.InstanceInfoCache()
+        nwinfo = network_model.NetworkInfo.hydrate([{'address': 'foo'}])
+        info_cache.network_info = nwinfo
+        inst = objects.Instance(context=self.context,
+                                info_cache=info_cache)
+
+        self.assertEqual(nwinfo, inst.get_network_info())
+
+    def test_get_network_info_without_cache(self):
+        inst = objects.Instance(context=self.context, info_cache=None)
+
+        self.assertEqual(network_model.NetworkInfo.hydrate([]),
+                         inst.get_network_info())
+
     @mock.patch.object(db, 'security_group_update')
     @mock.patch.object(db, 'instance_update_and_get_original')
     @mock.patch.object(db, 'instance_get_by_uuid')