diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xend/XendConfig.py b/tools/python/xen/xend/XendConfig.py
index 8b718deb3a..a9c9c4d53a 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xend/XendConfig.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xend/XendConfig.py
@@ -1360,6 +1360,7 @@ class XendConfig(dict):
                 if dev_info['uname'].split(':')[1] not in blktap_disk_types:
                     raise XendConfigError("tap:%s not a valid disk type" %
                                     dev_info['uname'].split(':')[1])
+                dev_info['required_uname'] = dev_info['uname']
 
             if dev_type == 'vif':
                 if not dev_info.get('mac'):
diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xend/server/BlktapController.py b/tools/python/xen/xend/server/BlktapController.py
index 2e6c93a896..a5c040fc45 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xend/server/BlktapController.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xend/server/BlktapController.py
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class BlktapController(BlkifController):
 
     def createDevice(self, config):
 
-        uname = config.get('uname', '')
+        uname = config.get('required_uname', '')
         try:
             (typ, subtyp, params, file) = string.split(uname, ':', 3)
         except: