diff --git a/heat/engine/service.py b/heat/engine/service.py
index 430c29c9c..d91423ad2 100644
--- a/heat/engine/service.py
+++ b/heat/engine/service.py
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ class EngineService(service.Service):
             return webob.exc.HTTPBadRequest(explanation=msg)
 
         tmpl = parser.Template(template)
-        tmpl_resources = template.get('Resources', [])
+        tmpl_resources = tmpl.get('Resources', [])
 
         if not tmpl_resources:
             return {'Error': 'At least one Resources member must be defined.'}
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ class EngineService(service.Service):
         params = tmpl_params.map(format_validate_parameter, is_real_param)
 
         result = {
-            'Description': template.get('Description', ''),
+            'Description': tmpl.get('Description', ''),
             'Parameters': params,
         }
         return result
diff --git a/heat/tests/test_validate.py b/heat/tests/test_validate.py
index 20a7211a9..4c971f307 100644
--- a/heat/tests/test_validate.py
+++ b/heat/tests/test_validate.py
@@ -531,6 +531,23 @@ class validateTest(HeatTestCase):
         res = dict(engine.validate_template(None, t))
         self.assertEqual(res['Description'], 'test.')
 
+    def test_validate_hot_valid(self):
+        t = template_format.parse(
+            """
+            heat_template_version: 2013-05-23
+            description: test.
+            resources:
+              my_instance:
+                type: AWS::EC2::Instance
+            """)
+        self.m.StubOutWithMock(instances.Instance, 'nova')
+        instances.Instance.nova().AndReturn(self.fc)
+        self.m.ReplayAll()
+
+        engine = service.EngineService('a', 't')
+        res = dict(engine.validate_template(None, t))
+        self.assertEqual(res['Description'], 'test.')
+
     def test_validate_ref_invalid(self):
         t = template_format.parse(test_template_ref % 'WikiDatabasez')