diff --git a/qubes/tools/qubes_create.py b/qubes/tools/qubes_create.py
index 360e6a03..8b94ab22 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qubes_create.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qubes_create.py
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ def main(args=None):
     '''
 
     args = parser.parse_args(args)
-    qubes.Qubes.create_empty_store(args.app, **args.properties)
+    qubes.Qubes.create_empty_store(args.app,
+        offline_mode=args.offline_mode, **args.properties)
     return 0
 
 
diff --git a/qubes/vm/adminvm.py b/qubes/vm/adminvm.py
index 965a4434..f6b17df5 100644
--- a/qubes/vm/adminvm.py
+++ b/qubes/vm/adminvm.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 ''' This module contains the AdminVM implementation '''
 
+import libvirt
 import qubes
 import qubes.exc
 import qubes.vm.qubesvm
@@ -42,6 +43,14 @@ class AdminVM(qubes.vm.qubesvm.QubesVM):
         default=None,
         doc='There are other ways to set kernel for Dom0.')
 
+    memory = qubes.property('memory', setter=qubes.property.forbidden,
+        default=lambda self: self.get_mem(),
+        doc='Memory currently assigned to dom0.')
+
+    maxmem = qubes.property('maxmem', setter=qubes.property.forbidden,
+        default=lambda self: self.get_mem_static_max(),
+        doc='Maximum dom0 memory size, modify using xen boot options.')
+
     @property
     def attached_volumes(self):
         return []
@@ -101,7 +110,16 @@ class AdminVM(qubes.vm.qubesvm.QubesVM):
         .. seealso:
            :py:meth:`qubes.vm.qubesvm.QubesVM.get_mem_static_max`
         '''
-        return self.app.vmm.libvirt_conn.getInfo()[1]
+        if self.app.vmm.offline_mode:
+            # default value passed on xen cmdline
+            return 4096
+        else:
+            try:
+                return self.app.vmm.libvirt_conn.getInfo()[1]
+            except libvirt.libvirtError as e:
+                self.log.warning(
+                    'Failed to get memory limit for dom0: {}'.format(e))
+                return 4096
 
     def verify_files(self):
         '''Always :py:obj:`True`