diff --git a/nova/console/serial.py b/nova/console/serial.py
index 98ac3f85fe53..af3abe080184 100644
--- a/nova/console/serial.py
+++ b/nova/console/serial.py
@@ -67,14 +67,13 @@ def release_port(host, port):
 
 def _get_port_range():
     config_range = CONF.serial_console.port_range
-    try:
-        start, stop = map(int, config_range.split(':'))
-        if start >= stop:
-            raise ValueError
-    except ValueError:
+
+    start, stop = map(int, config_range.split(':'))
+    if start >= stop:
         default_port_range = nova.conf.serial_console.DEFAULT_PORT_RANGE
-        LOG.warning(_LW("serial_console.port_range should be <num>:<num>. "
-                        "Given value %(port_range)s could not be parsed. "
+        LOG.warning(_LW("serial_console.port_range should be in the "
+                        "format <start>:<stop> and start < stop, "
+                        "Given value %(port_range)s is invalid. "
                         "Taking the default port range %(default)s."),
                     {'port_range': config_range,
                      'default': default_port_range})
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/console/test_serial.py b/nova/tests/unit/console/test_serial.py
index d910f0256379..7aeb0703e788 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/console/test_serial.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/console/test_serial.py
@@ -46,18 +46,6 @@ class SerialTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(10000, start)
         self.assertEqual(20000, stop)
 
-    def test_get_port_range_not_numeric(self):
-        self.flags(port_range='xxx:yyy', group='serial_console')
-        start, stop = serial._get_port_range()
-        self.assertEqual(10000, start)
-        self.assertEqual(20000, stop)
-
-    def test_get_port_range_invalid_syntax(self):
-        self.flags(port_range='10:20:30', group='serial_console')
-        start, stop = serial._get_port_range()
-        self.assertEqual(10000, start)
-        self.assertEqual(20000, stop)
-
     @mock.patch('socket.socket')
     def test_verify_port(self, fake_socket):
         s = mock.MagicMock()