diff --git a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-create b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-create
index 1f8c47b1..d1c4b5ee 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-create
+++ b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-create
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 from qubes.qubes import QubesVmCollection
 from qubes.qubes import QubesVmLabels
+from qubes.qubes import QubesException
 from optparse import OptionParser;
 import subprocess
 import re
@@ -133,14 +134,18 @@ def main():
         new_vm_template = template
 
     vm = None
-    if options.netvm:
-        vm = qvm_collection.add_new_netvm(vmname, new_vm_template, label = label)
-    elif options.proxyvm:
-        vm = qvm_collection.add_new_proxyvm(vmname, new_vm_template, label = label)
-    elif options.hvm:
-        vm = qvm_collection.add_new_hvm(vmname, label = label)
-    else:
-        vm = qvm_collection.add_new_appvm(vmname, new_vm_template, label = label)
+    try:
+        if options.netvm:
+            vm = qvm_collection.add_new_netvm(vmname, new_vm_template, label = label)
+        elif options.proxyvm:
+            vm = qvm_collection.add_new_proxyvm(vmname, new_vm_template, label = label)
+        elif options.hvm:
+            vm = qvm_collection.add_new_hvm(vmname, label = label)
+        else:
+            vm = qvm_collection.add_new_appvm(vmname, new_vm_template, label = label)
+    except QubesException as err:
+        print >> sys.stderr, "ERROR: {0}".format(err)
+        exit (1)
 
     if options.internal:
         vm.internal = True
diff --git a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-prefs b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-prefs
index d192f73f..2d690d30 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-prefs
+++ b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-prefs
@@ -375,7 +375,11 @@ def do_set(vms, vm, property, args):
         print >> sys.stderr, "ERROR: Property '{0}' not available for this VM".format(property)
         return False
 
-    return properties[property](vms, vm, args)
+    try:
+        return properties[property](vms, vm, args)
+    except Exception as err:
+        print >> sys.stderr, "ERROR: %s" % str(err)
+        return False
 
 
 def main():