diff --git a/xos/observers/vbng/steps/sync_vbngtenant.py b/xos/observers/vbng/steps/sync_vbngtenant.py
index 0112259..dfcbabb 100644
--- a/xos/observers/vbng/steps/sync_vbngtenant.py
+++ b/xos/observers/vbng/steps/sync_vbngtenant.py
@@ -37,10 +37,7 @@
         return objs
 
     def defer_sync(self, o, reason):
-        o.backend_register="{}"
-        o.backend_status = "2 - " + reason
-        o.save(update_fields=['enacted','backend_status','backend_register'])
-        logger.info("defer object %s due to %s" % (str(o), reason))
+        raise Exception("defer object %s due to %s" % (str(o), reason))
 
     def sync_record(self, o):
         logger.info("sync'ing VBNGTenant %s" % str(o))
diff --git a/xos/observers/vcpe/steps/sync_vcpetenant.py b/xos/observers/vcpe/steps/sync_vcpetenant.py
index 7cb93ec..8d85601 100644
--- a/xos/observers/vcpe/steps/sync_vcpetenant.py
+++ b/xos/observers/vcpe/steps/sync_vcpetenant.py
@@ -30,10 +30,7 @@
         SyncStep.__init__(self, **args)
 
     def defer_sync(self, o, reason):
-        o.backend_register="{}"
-        o.backend_status = "2 - " + reason
-        o.save(update_fields=['enacted','backend_status','backend_register'])
-        logger.info("defer object %s due to %s" % (str(o), reason))
+        raise Exception("defer object %s due to %s" % (str(o), reason))
 
     def fetch_pending(self, deleted):
         if (not deleted):