diff --git a/server/src/com/cloud/network/element/VirtualRouterElement.java b/server/src/com/cloud/network/element/VirtualRouterElement.java
index 8d4e443ba9c..652cc75ff53 100644
--- a/server/src/com/cloud/network/element/VirtualRouterElement.java
+++ b/server/src/com/cloud/network/element/VirtualRouterElement.java
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ public class VirtualRouterElement extends DhcpElement implements NetworkElement,
 
             NetworkOffering offering = _networkOfferingDao.findById(network.getNetworkOfferingId());
             List<DomainRouterVO> routers = _routerMgr.deployVirtualRouter(network, dest, _accountMgr.getAccount(network.getAccountId()), uservm.getParameters(), offering.getRedundantRouter());
+            if ((routers == null) || (routers.size() == 0)) {
+                throw new ResourceUnavailableException("Can't find at least one running router!", this.getClass(), 0);
+            }
             List<VirtualRouter> rets = _routerMgr.addVirtualMachineIntoNetwork(network, nic, uservm, dest, context, routers);
 
             return (rets != null) && (!rets.isEmpty());
diff --git a/server/src/com/cloud/network/router/VirtualNetworkApplianceManagerImpl.java b/server/src/com/cloud/network/router/VirtualNetworkApplianceManagerImpl.java
index 471c882a96b..93170cb9562 100755
--- a/server/src/com/cloud/network/router/VirtualNetworkApplianceManagerImpl.java
+++ b/server/src/com/cloud/network/router/VirtualNetworkApplianceManagerImpl.java
@@ -1048,8 +1048,14 @@ public class VirtualNetworkApplianceManagerImpl implements VirtualNetworkApplian
         }
         
         for (DomainRouterVO router : routers) {
-            HostVO host = _hostDao.findById(router.getHostId());
-            if (host != null && host.getStatus() == Status.Up) {
+            boolean skip = false;
+            if (router.getHostId() != null) {
+                HostVO host = _hostDao.findById(router.getHostId());
+                if (host == null || host.getStatus() != Status.Up) {
+                    skip = true;
+                }
+            }
+            if (!skip) {
                 State state = router.getState();
                 if (state != State.Running) {
                     router = startVirtualRouter(router, _accountService.getSystemUser(), _accountService.getSystemAccount(), params);