diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py b/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py
index d6e7f69f61..3e49951034 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py
@@ -1903,6 +1903,9 @@ class XendDomainInfo:
     def getVCpuCount(self):
         return self.info['VCPUs_max']
 
+    def getVCpuAvail(self):
+        return self.info['vcpu_avail']
+
     def setVCpuCount(self, vcpus):
         def vcpus_valid(n):
             if vcpus <= 0:
diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xend/image.py b/tools/python/xen/xend/image.py
index ee2e03375c..45d7a0815a 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xend/image.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xend/image.py
@@ -827,6 +827,7 @@ class HVMImageHandler(ImageHandler):
     def parseDeviceModelArgs(self, vmConfig):
         ret = ImageHandler.parseDeviceModelArgs(self, vmConfig)
         ret = ret + ['-vcpus', str(self.vm.getVCpuCount())]
+#        ret = ret + ['-vcpu_avail', str(self.vm.getVCpuAvail())]
 
         if self.kernel:
             log.debug("kernel         = %s", self.kernel)