diff --git a/sushy_tools/emulator/resources/systems/libvirtdriver.py b/sushy_tools/emulator/resources/systems/libvirtdriver.py
index 9b9f70c4..8a0369b1 100644
--- a/sushy_tools/emulator/resources/systems/libvirtdriver.py
+++ b/sushy_tools/emulator/resources/systems/libvirtdriver.py
@@ -776,28 +776,32 @@ class LibvirtDriver(AbstractSystemsDriver):
         domain = self._get_domain(identity, readonly=True)
         processors_count = self.get_total_cpus(identity)
 
-        # NOTE(rpittau) not a lot we can provide if the domain is not active
         processors = [{'id': 'CPU{0}'.format(x),
                        'socket': 'CPU {0}'.format(x)}
                       for x in range(processors_count)]
 
-        if domain.isActive():
-            tree = ET.fromstring(domain.XMLDesc())
-
+        tree = ET.fromstring(domain.XMLDesc())
+        try:
             model = tree.find('.//cpu/model').text
+        except AttributeError:
+            model = 'N/A'
+        try:
             vendor = tree.find('.//cpu/vendor').text
-            try:
-                cores = tree.find('.//cpu/topology').get('cores')
-                threads = tree.find('.//cpu/topology').get('threads')
-            except AttributeError:
-                cores = 'N/A'
-                threads = 'N/A'
+        except AttributeError:
+            vendor = 'N/A'
+        try:
+            cores = tree.find('.//cpu/topology').get('cores')
+            threads = tree.find('.//cpu/topology').get('threads')
+        except AttributeError:
+            # still return an integer as clients are expecting
+            cores = '1'
+            threads = '1'
 
-            for processor in processors:
-                processor['model'] = model
-                processor['vendor'] = vendor
-                processor['cores'] = cores
-                processor['threads'] = threads
+        for processor in processors:
+            processor['model'] = model
+            processor['vendor'] = vendor
+            processor['cores'] = cores
+            processor['threads'] = threads
 
         return processors
 
diff --git a/sushy_tools/tests/unit/emulator/domain_processors_notopology.xml b/sushy_tools/tests/unit/emulator/domain_processors_notopology.xml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6d1f1da1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sushy_tools/tests/unit/emulator/domain_processors_notopology.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<domain type='kvm'>
+  <name>test-node</name>
+  <uuid>5729db1e-3162-40e4-9fc4-817e4c0c121d</uuid>
+  <memory unit='KiB'>2097152</memory>
+  <currentMemory unit='KiB'>2097152</currentMemory>
+  <vcpu placement='static'>1</vcpu>
+  <os>
+    <type arch='x86_64' machine='pc-i440fx-bionic'>hvm</type>
+    <loader readonly='yes' type='pflash'>/usr/share/OVMF/OVMF_CODE.fd</loader>
+    <nvram>/var/lib/libvirt/qemu/nvram/test-node_VARS.fd</nvram>
+    <boot dev='hd'/>
+  </os>
+  <features>
+    <acpi/>
+    <apic/>
+    <vmport state='off'/>
+  </features>
+  <cpu mode='custom' match='exact' check='partial'/>
+  <clock offset='utc'>
+    <timer name='rtc' tickpolicy='catchup'/>
+    <timer name='pit' tickpolicy='delay'/>
+    <timer name='hpet' present='no'/>
+  </clock>
+  <on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff>
+  <on_reboot>restart</on_reboot>
+  <on_crash>destroy</on_crash>
+  <pm>
+    <suspend-to-mem enabled='no'/>
+    <suspend-to-disk enabled='no'/>
+  </pm>
+</domain>
diff --git a/sushy_tools/tests/unit/emulator/resources/systems/test_libvirt.py b/sushy_tools/tests/unit/emulator/resources/systems/test_libvirt.py
index d5ee9ec1..95d44cd8 100644
--- a/sushy_tools/tests/unit/emulator/resources/systems/test_libvirt.py
+++ b/sushy_tools/tests/unit/emulator/resources/systems/test_libvirt.py
@@ -966,6 +966,33 @@ class LibvirtDriverTestCase(base.BaseTestCase):
                            'vendor': 'Intel'}],
                          sorted(processors, key=lambda k: k['id']))
 
+    @mock.patch('libvirt.openReadOnly', autospec=True)
+    def test_get_processors_notopology(self, libvirt_mock):
+        with open(
+                'sushy_tools/tests/unit/emulator/'
+                'domain_processors_notopology.xml') as f:
+            domain_xml = f.read()
+
+        conn_mock = libvirt_mock.return_value
+        domain_mock = conn_mock.lookupByUUID.return_value
+        domain_mock.XMLDesc.return_value = domain_xml
+        domain_mock.maxVcpus.return_value = 2
+
+        processors = self.test_driver.get_processors(self.uuid)
+        self.assertEqual([{'cores': '1',
+                           'id': 'CPU0',
+                           'model': 'N/A',
+                           'socket': 'CPU 0',
+                           'threads': '1',
+                           'vendor': 'N/A'},
+                          {'cores': '1',
+                           'id': 'CPU1',
+                           'model': 'N/A',
+                           'socket': 'CPU 1',
+                           'threads': '1',
+                           'vendor': 'N/A'}],
+                         sorted(processors, key=lambda k: k['id']))
+
     @mock.patch('libvirt.openReadOnly', autospec=True)
     def test_get_simple_storage_collection(self, libvirt_mock):
         with open('sushy_tools/tests/unit/emulator/'