diff --git a/client-api/api_lib/pvcapi_helper.py b/client-api/api_lib/pvcapi_helper.py
index 38ae0012..f206eb8b 100755
--- a/client-api/api_lib/pvcapi_helper.py
+++ b/client-api/api_lib/pvcapi_helper.py
@@ -657,6 +657,9 @@ def net_add(vni, description, nettype, domain, name_servers,
     """
     Add a virtual client network to the PVC cluster.
     """
+    if name_servers is not None:
+        name_servers = name_servers.split(',')
+
     zk_conn = pvc_common.startZKConnection(config['coordinators'])
     retflag, retdata = pvc_network.add_network(zk_conn, vni, description, nettype, domain, name_servers,
                                               ip4_network, ip4_gateway, ip6_network, ip6_gateway,
@@ -679,6 +682,9 @@ def net_modify(vni, description, domain, name_servers,
     """
     Modify a virtual client network in the PVC cluster.
     """
+    if name_servers is not None:
+        name_servers = name_servers.split(',')
+
     zk_conn = pvc_common.startZKConnection(config['coordinators'])
     retflag, retdata = pvc_network.modify_network(zk_conn, vni, description, domain, name_servers,
                                               ip4_network, ip4_gateway, ip6_network, ip6_gateway,
diff --git a/client-api/pvc-api.py b/client-api/pvc-api.py
index 551a53a9..3429c164 100755
--- a/client-api/pvc-api.py
+++ b/client-api/pvc-api.py
@@ -1644,7 +1644,7 @@ class API_Network_Element(Resource):
             reqargs.get('description', None),
             reqargs.get('nettype', None),
             reqargs.get('domain', None),
-            reqargs.get('name_servers', None).split(','),
+            reqargs.get('name_servers', None),
             reqargs.get('ip4_network', None),
             reqargs.get('ip4_gateway', None),
             reqargs.get('ip6_network', None),
@@ -1735,7 +1735,7 @@ class API_Network_Element(Resource):
         return api_helper.net_modify(
             reqargs.get('description', None),
             reqargs.get('domain', None),
-            reqargs.get('name_servers', None).split(','),
+            reqargs.get('name_servers', None),
             reqargs.get('ip4_network', None),
             reqargs.get('ip4_gateway', None),
             reqargs.get('ip6_network', None),