diff --git a/devstack/components/nova.py b/devstack/components/nova.py
index 4098c59e..67b59e3b 100644
--- a/devstack/components/nova.py
+++ b/devstack/components/nova.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
+import os
+
 from urlparse import urlunparse
 
 from devstack import component as comp
@@ -759,13 +761,21 @@ class NovaConfConfigurator(object):
 
     def _configure_instances_path(self, instances_path, nova_conf):
         nova_conf.add('instances_path', instances_path)
-        LOG.debug("Attempting to create instance directory: %s" % (instances_path))
+        LOG.debug("Attempting to create instance directory: %r", instances_path)
         self.tracewriter.dirs_made(*sh.mkdirslist(instances_path))
-        LOG.debug("Adjusting permissions of instance directory: %s" % (instances_path))
+        LOG.debug("Adjusting permissions of instance directory: %r", instances_path)
         sh.chmod(instances_path, 0777)
+        instance_parent = sh.dirname(instances_path)
+        LOG.debug("Adjusting permissions of instance directory parent: %r", instance_parent)
+        # In cases where you are using kvm + qemu
+        # On certain distros (ie RHEL) this user needs to be able
+        # To enter the parents of the instance path, if this is in /home/BLAH/ then 
+        # Without enabling the whole path, this user can't write there. This helps fix that
         with sh.Rooted(True):
-            # This seems required... (maybe only on RHEL?)
-            sh.rchmod(sh.dirname(instances_path), 0665)
+            for p in sh.explode_path(instance_parent):
+                if not os.access(os.X_OK) and sh.isdir(p):
+                    # Need to be able to go into that directory
+                    sh.chmod(p, 0755)
 
     def _configure_libvirt(self, virt_type, nova_conf):
         if virt_type == 'lxc':
diff --git a/devstack/shell.py b/devstack/shell.py
index c88df2f5..8ef15077 100644
--- a/devstack/shell.py
+++ b/devstack/shell.py
@@ -285,10 +285,8 @@ def _explode_form_path(path):
     return ret_paths
 
 
-def rchmod(path, perm):
-    paths = _explode_form_path(path)
-    for p in paths:
-        chmod(p, perm)
+def explode_path(path):
+    return _explode_form_path(path)
 
 
 def in_terminal(check_both=False):
diff --git a/devstack/utils.py b/devstack/utils.py
index 4fea7978..3e50b237 100644
--- a/devstack/utils.py
+++ b/devstack/utils.py
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ LOG = logging.getLogger("devstack.util")
 DEF_IP = "127.0.0.1"
 IP_LOOKER = '8.8.8.8'
 DEF_IP_VERSION = settings.IPV4
-PRIVATE_OCTS = []
 ALL_NUMS = re.compile(r"^\d+$")
 START_NUMS = re.compile(r"^(\d+)(\D+)")
 STAR_VERSION = 0
@@ -250,9 +249,8 @@ def get_host_ip():
         for (_, net_info) in interfaces.items():
             ip_info = net_info.get(DEF_IP_VERSION)
             if ip_info:
-                a_ip = ip_info.get('addr') or ""
-                first_oct = a_ip.split(".")[0]
-                if first_oct and first_oct not in PRIVATE_OCTS:
+                a_ip = ip_info.get('addr')
+                if a_ip:
                     ip = a_ip
                     break
     # Just return a localhost version then