diff --git a/nova/cells/scheduler.py b/nova/cells/scheduler.py
index 54c978e60fbd..a3201cb57e55 100644
--- a/nova/cells/scheduler.py
+++ b/nova/cells/scheduler.py
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ from nova.compute import vm_states
 from nova import conductor
 from nova.db import base
 from nova import exception
+from nova.objects import base as obj_base
 from nova.objects import instance as instance_obj
-from nova.objects import security_group
 from nova.openstack.common.gettextutils import _
 from nova.openstack.common import log as logging
 from nova.scheduler import rpcapi as scheduler_rpcapi
@@ -93,10 +93,12 @@ class CellsScheduler(base.Base):
         # down.
         sys_metadata = flavors.save_flavor_info(sys_metadata, instance_type)
         instance_values['system_metadata'] = sys_metadata
+        # Pop out things that will get set properly when re-creating the
+        # instance record.
+        instance_values.pop('id')
         instance_values.pop('name')
-        if 'security_groups' in instance_values:
-            instance_values = security_group.make_secgroup_list(
-                instance_values['security_groups'])
+        instance_values.pop('info_cache')
+        instance_values.pop('security_groups')
 
         num_instances = len(instance_uuids)
         for i, instance_uuid in enumerate(instance_uuids):
@@ -112,6 +114,7 @@ class CellsScheduler(base.Base):
                     block_device_mapping,
                     num_instances, i)
 
+            instance = obj_base.obj_to_primitive(instance)
             self.msg_runner.instance_update_at_top(ctxt, instance)
 
     def _create_action_here(self, ctxt, instance_uuids):
diff --git a/nova/compute/api.py b/nova/compute/api.py
index 7656847361ef..3ee9760e5030 100644
--- a/nova/compute/api.py
+++ b/nova/compute/api.py
@@ -1386,8 +1386,9 @@ class API(base.Base):
             context, instance, "%s.start" % delete_type)
 
         elevated = context.elevated()
-        self.network_api.deallocate_for_instance(elevated,
-                instance)
+        if self.cell_type != 'api':
+            self.network_api.deallocate_for_instance(elevated,
+                                                     instance)
         system_meta = self.db.instance_system_metadata_get(context,
                 instance_uuid)
 
diff --git a/nova/tests/cells/test_cells_scheduler.py b/nova/tests/cells/test_cells_scheduler.py
index 63528c8ef2a6..32378afe3a3d 100644
--- a/nova/tests/cells/test_cells_scheduler.py
+++ b/nova/tests/cells/test_cells_scheduler.py
@@ -96,7 +96,10 @@ class CellsSchedulerTestCase(test.TestCase):
         inst_type = db.flavor_get(self.ctxt, 1)
         image = {'properties': {}}
         instance_uuids = self.instance_uuids
-        instance_props = {'name': 'instance-00000001',
+        instance_props = {'id': 'removed',
+                          'security_groups': 'removed',
+                          'info_cache': 'removed',
+                          'name': 'instance-00000001',
                           'hostname': 'meow',
                           'display_name': 'moo',
                           'image_ref': 'fake_image_ref',
diff --git a/nova/tests/compute/test_compute_api.py b/nova/tests/compute/test_compute_api.py
index 96837d043415..9231e134d638 100644
--- a/nova/tests/compute/test_compute_api.py
+++ b/nova/tests/compute/test_compute_api.py
@@ -413,8 +413,9 @@ class _ComputeAPIUnitTestMixIn(object):
             compute_utils.notify_about_instance_usage(self.context,
                                                       inst,
                                                       '%s.start' % delete_type)
-            self.compute_api.network_api.deallocate_for_instance(
-                self.context, inst)
+            if not self.is_cells:
+                self.compute_api.network_api.deallocate_for_instance(
+                        self.context, inst)
             db.instance_system_metadata_get(self.context, inst.uuid
                                             ).AndReturn('sys-meta')
             state = ('soft' in delete_type and vm_states.SOFT_DELETED or