diff --git a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
index 194f9ef1..ce94f1cf 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
+++ b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
@@ -2241,9 +2241,11 @@ class QubesHVm(QubesVm):
                     format(self.root_img))
 
         if not os.path.exists (self.private_img):
-            raise QubesException (
-                "VM private image file doesn't exist: {0}".\
+            print >>sys.stderr, "WARNING: Creating empty VM private image file: {0}".\
                 format(self.private_img))
+            f_private = open(self.private_img, "w")
+            f_private.truncate(default_private_img_size)
+            f_root.close()
 
         return True