diff --git a/xos/core/models/plcorebase.py b/xos/core/models/plcorebase.py
index c8c25a7..060570d 100644
--- a/xos/core/models/plcorebase.py
+++ b/xos/core/models/plcorebase.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import json
 import os
 import sys
+import threading
 from django import db
 from django.db import models
 from django.forms.models import model_to_dict
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@
     # default values for created and updated are only there to keep evolution
     # from failing.
     created = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True, default=timezone.now)
-    updated = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True, default=timezone.now)
+    updated = models.DateTimeField(default=timezone.now)
     enacted = models.DateTimeField(null=True, blank=True, default=None)
     policed = models.DateTimeField(null=True, blank=True, default=None)
 
@@ -270,6 +271,9 @@
                 if not (field in ["backend_register", "backend_status", "deleted", "enacted", "updated"]):
                     ignore_composite_key_check=False
 
+        if 'synchronizer' not in threading.current_thread().name:
+            self.updated = datetime.datetime.now()
+
         super(PlCoreBase, self).save(*args, **kwargs)
 
         # This is a no-op if observer_disabled is set
diff --git a/xos/synchronizers/base/backend.py b/xos/synchronizers/base/backend.py
index 5f11d46..d7307fa 100644
--- a/xos/synchronizers/base/backend.py
+++ b/xos/synchronizers/base/backend.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
     def run(self):
         # start the openstack observer
         observer = XOSObserver()
-        observer_thread = threading.Thread(target=observer.run)
+        observer_thread = threading.Thread(target=observer.run,name='synchronizer')
         observer_thread.start()
 
         # start model policies thread
diff --git a/xos/synchronizers/base/event_loop.py b/xos/synchronizers/base/event_loop.py
index f224380..4f7d436 100644
--- a/xos/synchronizers/base/event_loop.py
+++ b/xos/synchronizers/base/event_loop.py
@@ -521,7 +521,12 @@
 
                         loop_end = time.time()
 
-                        diag = Diag.objects.filter(name=Config().observer_name).first()
+                        try:
+                            observer_name = Config().observer_name
+                        except:
+                            observer_name = ''
+
+                        diag = Diag.objects.filter(name=observer_name).first()
                         if (diag):
                             br_str = diag.backend_register
                             br = json.loads(br_str)