diff --git a/teuthology/lock/cli.py b/teuthology/lock/cli.py
index e5f97fb63..ed4f28bd5 100644
--- a/teuthology/lock/cli.py
+++ b/teuthology/lock/cli.py
@@ -178,12 +178,14 @@ def main(ctx):
                 # Update keys last
                 updatekeys_machines = list()
             else:
-                machines_to_update.append(machine)
                 ops.update_nodes([machine], True)
-                teuthology.provision.create_if_vm(
+                created = teuthology.provision.create_if_vm(
                     ctx,
                     misc.canonicalize_hostname(machine),
                 )
+                # do not try to update inventory if failed to create vm
+                if created:
+                    machines_to_update.append(machine)
         with teuthology.parallel.parallel() as p:
             ops.update_nodes(reimage_machines, True)
             for machine in reimage_machines:
diff --git a/teuthology/lock/ops.py b/teuthology/lock/ops.py
index fbb7fb6fb..52dce6857 100644
--- a/teuthology/lock/ops.py
+++ b/teuthology/lock/ops.py
@@ -445,7 +445,6 @@ def block_and_lock_machines(ctx, total_requested, machine_type, reimage=True, tr
                     loopcount += 1
                     time.sleep(10)
                     keys_dict = misc.ssh_keyscan(vmlist)
-                    log.info('virtual machine is still unavailable')
                     if loopcount == 40:
                         loopcount = 0
                         log.info('virtual machine(s) still not up, ' +
diff --git a/teuthology/provision/downburst.py b/teuthology/provision/downburst.py
index 97a511ef9..7dac58efc 100644
--- a/teuthology/provision/downburst.py
+++ b/teuthology/provision/downburst.py
@@ -107,8 +107,9 @@ def create(self):
                         self.destroy()
                     else:
                         success = False
-                        log.info("Downburst failed on %s: %s" % (
-                            self.name, stderr.strip()))
+                        log.error("Downburst failed on %s" % self.name)
+                        for i in stderr.split('\n'):
+                            log.error(f">>> {i}")
                         break
             return success