diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/os-neutron-handle_internal_only_routers-e46092d6f1f7c4b0.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/os-neutron-handle_internal_only_routers-e46092d6f1f7c4b0.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..152cbfbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/os-neutron-handle_internal_only_routers-e46092d6f1f7c4b0.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - The Neutron L3 Agent configuration for the handle_internal_only_routers
+    variable is removed in order to use the Neutron upstream default setting.
+    The current default for handle_internal_only_routers is True,
+    which does allow Neutron L3 router without external networks attached
+    (as discussed per https://bugs.launchpad.net/neutron/+bug/1572390).
diff --git a/templates/l3_agent.ini.j2 b/templates/l3_agent.ini.j2
index 05f06f56..878765ba 100644
--- a/templates/l3_agent.ini.j2
+++ b/templates/l3_agent.ini.j2
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ ha_confs_path = {{ neutron_system_home_folder }}/ha_confs
 ha_vrrp_advert_int = 2
 ha_vrrp_auth_password = {{ neutron_ha_vrrp_auth_password }}
 ha_vrrp_auth_type = {{ neutron_ha_vrrp_auth_type }}
-handle_internal_only_routers = False
 send_arp_for_ha = 3
 
 # Metadata