diff --git a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
index 937bbad0..d33cd882 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
+++ b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
@@ -1286,7 +1286,7 @@ class QubesVm(object):
 
         return conf
 
-    def run(self, command, verbose = True, autostart = False, notify_function = None, passio = False, passio_popen = False, localcmd = None, wait = False):
+    def run(self, command, verbose = True, autostart = False, notify_function = None, passio = False, passio_popen = False, localcmd = None, wait = False, gui = True):
         """command should be in form 'user:cmdline'"""
 
         if not self.is_running():
@@ -1306,7 +1306,7 @@ class QubesVm(object):
                 raise QubesException("Not enough memory to start '{0}' VM! Close one or more running VMs and try again.".format(self.name))
 
         xid = self.get_xid()
-        if os.getenv("DISPLAY") is not None and not self.is_guid_running():
+        if gui and os.getenv("DISPLAY") is not None and not self.is_guid_running():
             self.start_guid(verbose = verbose, notify_function = notify_function)
 
         args = [qrexec_client_path, "-d", str(xid), command]
@@ -1983,10 +1983,7 @@ class QubesProxyVm(QubesNetVm):
         vms = [vm for vm in self.connected_vms.values()]
         for vm in vms:
             iptables="*filter\n"
-            if vm.has_firewall():
-                conf = vm.get_firewall_conf()
-            else:
-                conf = { "rules": list(), "allow": True, "allowDns": True, "allowIcmp": True, "allowYumProxy": False }
+            conf = vm.get_firewall_conf()
 
             xid = vm.get_xid()
             if xid < 0: # VM not active ATM
diff --git a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run
index 89d53756..d83236cd 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run
+++ b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def vm_run_cmd(vm, cmd, options):
         return vm.run(cmd, autostart = options.auto,
             verbose = options.verbose,
             notify_function = tray_notify_generic if options.tray else None,
-            passio = options.passio, localcmd = options.localcmd)
+            passio = options.passio, localcmd = options.localcmd, gui = options.gui)
     except QubesException as err:
         if options.tray:
             tray_notify_error(str(err))
@@ -130,6 +130,9 @@ def main():
     parser.add_option ("--force", action="store_true", dest="force", default=False,
                       help="Force operation, even if may damage other VMs (eg shutdown of NetVM)")
 
+    parser.add_option ("--nogui", action="store_false", dest="gui", default=True,
+                      help="Run command without gui")
+
     (options, args) = parser.parse_args ()
 
 
diff --git a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-sync-clock b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-sync-clock
index 30978af4..449c664f 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-sync-clock
+++ b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-sync-clock
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ def main():
                 print >> sys.stderr, '--> Syncing \'%s\' clock.' % vm.name
             try:
                 vm.run('root:date -u -s "%s"' % date_out, verbose=verbose)
-            except NotImplementedError:
+            except Exception as e:
+                print >> sys.stderr, "ERROR syncing time in VM '%s': %s" % (vm.name, str(e))
                 pass
 
 main()