diff --git a/engine/orchestration/src/com/cloud/agent/manager/AgentManagerImpl.java b/engine/orchestration/src/com/cloud/agent/manager/AgentManagerImpl.java
index 105a82deb27..918476cbac6 100755
--- a/engine/orchestration/src/com/cloud/agent/manager/AgentManagerImpl.java
+++ b/engine/orchestration/src/com/cloud/agent/manager/AgentManagerImpl.java
@@ -438,20 +438,22 @@ public class AgentManagerImpl extends ManagerBase implements AgentManager, Handl
 
     protected Status investigate(AgentAttache agent) {
         Long hostId = agent.getId();
-        if (s_logger.isDebugEnabled()) {
-            s_logger.debug("checking if agent (" + hostId + ") is alive");
-        }
-
-        Answer answer = easySend(hostId, new CheckHealthCommand());
-        if (answer != null && answer.getResult()) {
-            Status status = Status.Up;
+        HostVO host = _hostDao.findById(hostId);
+        if (host != null && host.getType() != null && !host.getType().isVirtual()) {
             if (s_logger.isDebugEnabled()) {
-                s_logger.debug("agent (" + hostId + ") responded to checkHeathCommand, reporting that agent is " + status);
+                s_logger.debug("checking if agent (" + hostId + ") is alive");
             }
-            return status;
+            Answer answer = easySend(hostId, new CheckHealthCommand());
+            if (answer != null && answer.getResult()) {
+                Status status = Status.Up;
+                if (s_logger.isDebugEnabled()) {
+                    s_logger.debug("agent (" + hostId + ") responded to checkHeathCommand, reporting that agent is " + status);
+                }
+                return status;
+            }
+            return _haMgr.investigate(hostId);
         }
-
-        return _haMgr.investigate(hostId);
+        return Status.Alert;
     }
 
     protected AgentAttache getAttache(final Long hostId) throws AgentUnavailableException {