diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py b/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py
index 42e3a50dd7..748d7fe7f1 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py
@@ -392,6 +392,8 @@ def parseConfig(config):
             log.warn("Ignoring malformed and deprecated config option "
                      "restart = %s", restart)
 
+    result['start_time'] = get_cfg('start_time', float)
+
     log.debug("parseConfig: result is %s", result)
     return result
 
diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xend/server/blkif.py b/tools/python/xen/xend/server/blkif.py
index 927e062e11..9726b43868 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xend/server/blkif.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xend/server/blkif.py
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ class BlkifController(DevController):
                          'acm_policy' : policy})
 
         devid = blkif.blkdev_name_to_number(dev)
+        if not devid:
+            raise VmError('Unable to find number for device (%s)' % (dev))
+
         front = { 'virtual-device' : "%i" % devid,
                   'device-type' : dev_type
                 }