diff --git a/nova/notifications.py b/nova/notifications.py
index 998abee65..933af1f20 100644
--- a/nova/notifications.py
+++ b/nova/notifications.py
@@ -109,16 +109,6 @@ def _send_instance_update_notification(context, instance, old_vm_state,
     bw = bandwidth_usage(instance, audit_start)
     payload["bandwidth"] = bw
 
-    try:
-        system_metadata = db.instance_system_metadata_get(
-                context, instance.uuid)
-    except exception.NotFound:
-        system_metadata = {}
-
-    # add image metadata
-    image_meta_props = image_meta(system_metadata)
-    payload["image_meta"] = image_meta_props
-
     # if the service name (e.g. api/scheduler/compute) is not provided, default
     # to "compute"
     if not service:
@@ -222,6 +212,19 @@ def usage_from_instance(context, instance_ref, network_info,
 
     instance_type_name = instance_ref.get('instance_type', {}).get('name', '')
 
+    if system_metadata is None:
+        try:
+            if instance_ref.get('deleted'):
+                with utils.temporary_mutation(context, read_deleted='yes'):
+                    system_metadata = db.instance_system_metadata_get(
+                            context, instance_ref['uuid'])
+            else:
+                system_metadata = db.instance_system_metadata_get(
+                        context, instance_ref['uuid'])
+
+        except exception.NotFound:
+            system_metadata = {}
+
     usage_info = dict(
         # Owner properties
         tenant_id=instance_ref['project_id'],
@@ -273,5 +276,9 @@ def usage_from_instance(context, instance_ref, network_info,
     if network_info is not None:
         usage_info['fixed_ips'] = network_info.fixed_ips()
 
+    # add image metadata
+    image_meta_props = image_meta(system_metadata)
+    usage_info["image_meta"] = image_meta_props
+
     usage_info.update(kw)
     return usage_info
diff --git a/nova/tests/test_compute_utils.py b/nova/tests/test_compute_utils.py
index 4e00025bc..5081536ac 100644
--- a/nova/tests/test_compute_utils.py
+++ b/nova/tests/test_compute_utils.py
@@ -114,6 +114,41 @@ class UsageInfoTestCase(test.TestCase):
         self.assertEquals(payload['image_ref_url'], image_ref_url)
         self.compute.terminate_instance(self.context, instance['uuid'])
 
+    def test_notify_usage_exists_deleted_instance(self):
+        """Ensure 'exists' notification generates appropriate usage data."""
+        instance_id = self._create_instance()
+        instance = db.instance_get(self.context, instance_id)
+        # Set some system metadata
+        sys_metadata = {'image_md_key1': 'val1',
+                        'image_md_key2': 'val2',
+                        'other_data': 'meow'}
+        db.instance_system_metadata_update(self.context, instance['uuid'],
+                sys_metadata, False)
+        self.compute.terminate_instance(self.context, instance['uuid'])
+        instance = db.instance_get(self.context.elevated(read_deleted='yes'),
+                                   instance_id)
+        compute_utils.notify_usage_exists(self.context, instance)
+        msg = test_notifier.NOTIFICATIONS[-1]
+        self.assertEquals(msg['priority'], 'INFO')
+        self.assertEquals(msg['event_type'], 'compute.instance.exists')
+        payload = msg['payload']
+        self.assertEquals(payload['tenant_id'], self.project_id)
+        self.assertEquals(payload['user_id'], self.user_id)
+        self.assertEquals(payload['instance_id'], instance.uuid)
+        self.assertEquals(payload['instance_type'], 'm1.tiny')
+        type_id = instance_types.get_instance_type_by_name('m1.tiny')['id']
+        self.assertEquals(str(payload['instance_type_id']), str(type_id))
+        for attr in ('display_name', 'created_at', 'launched_at',
+                     'state', 'state_description',
+                     'bandwidth', 'audit_period_beginning',
+                     'audit_period_ending', 'image_meta'):
+            self.assertTrue(attr in payload,
+                            msg="Key %s not in payload" % attr)
+        self.assertEquals(payload['image_meta'],
+                {'md_key1': 'val1', 'md_key2': 'val2'})
+        image_ref_url = "%s/images/1" % utils.generate_glance_url()
+        self.assertEquals(payload['image_ref_url'], image_ref_url)
+
     def test_notify_usage_exists_instance_not_found(self):
         """Ensure 'exists' notification generates appropriate usage data."""
         instance_id = self._create_instance()