diff --git a/planetstack/observer/event_loop.py b/planetstack/observer/event_loop.py
index 23e873f..f71ca00 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/event_loop.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/event_loop.py
@@ -153,16 +153,16 @@
         self.load_run_times()
         
 
-    def check_duration(self):
+    def check_duration(self, step, duration):
         try:
-            if (duration > S.deadline):
-                logger.info('Sync step %s missed deadline, took %.2f seconds'%(S.name,duration))
+            if (duration > step.deadline):
+                logger.info('Sync step %s missed deadline, took %.2f seconds'%(step.name,duration))
         except AttributeError:
             # S doesn't have a deadline
             pass
 
     def update_run_time(self, step):
-        self.last_run_times[step.name]=time.time()
+        self.last_run_times[step.__name__]=time.time()
 
     def check_schedule(self, step):
         time_since_last_run = time.time() - self.last_run_times[step.__name__]
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@
                         self.check_schedule(sync_step) # dont run sync_network_routes if time since last run < 1 hour
                         should_run = True
                     except StepNotReady:
-                        logging.info('Step not ready: %s'%sync_step.name)
+                        logging.info('Step not ready: %s'%sync_step.__name__)
                         failed_steps.append(sync_step)
                     except:
                         failed_steps.append(sync_step)
@@ -241,8 +241,9 @@
                             failed_objects = sync_step(failed=failed_step_objects)
 
 
-                            check_deadline(sync_step, duration)
-                            failed_step_objects.extend(failed_objects)
+                            self.check_duration(sync_step, duration)
+                            if failed_objects:
+                                failed_step_objects.extend(failed_objects)
                             self.update_run_time(sync_step)
                         except:
                             failed_steps.append(S)
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/garbage_collector.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/garbage_collector.py
index 9e2a37d..431623d 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/steps/garbage_collector.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/garbage_collector.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import base64
+from django.db.models import F, Q
 from planetstack.config import Config
 from observer.openstacksyncstep import OpenStackSyncStep
 
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_network_slivers.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_network_slivers.py
index e2556bb..dfb9d8d 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_network_slivers.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_network_slivers.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import base64
+from django.db.models import F, Q
 from planetstack.config import Config
 from observer.openstacksyncstep import OpenStackSyncStep
 from core.models.network import *
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_networks.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_networks.py
index 02a1b23..82d6bc7 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_networks.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_networks.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import base64
+from django.db.models import F, Q
 from planetstack.config import Config
 from observer.openstacksyncstep import OpenStackSyncStep
 from core.models.network import *
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_site_privileges.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_site_privileges.py
index 6ec917c..de8976d 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_site_privileges.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_site_privileges.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import base64
+from django.db.models import F, Q
 from planetstack.config import Config
 from observer.openstacksyncstep import OpenStackSyncStep
 from core.models.site import *
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sites.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sites.py
index d7a0ab7..2013c6d 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sites.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sites.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import base64
+from django.db.models import F, Q
 from planetstack.config import Config
 from observer.openstacksyncstep import OpenStackSyncStep
 from core.models.site import Site
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slice_memberships.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slice_memberships.py
index 0e9d681..2748fcd 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slice_memberships.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slice_memberships.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import base64
+from django.db.models import F, Q
 from planetstack.config import Config
 from observer.openstacksyncstep import OpenStackSyncStep
 from core.models.slice import *
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slices.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slices.py
index d5ed266..9ba5ab7 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slices.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slices.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import base64
+from django.db.models import F, Q
 from planetstack.config import Config
 from observer.openstacksyncstep import OpenStackSyncStep
 from core.models.slice import Slice
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sliver_ips.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sliver_ips.py
index fb4fd5b..2d7f1f8 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sliver_ips.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_sliver_ips.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import base64
+from django.db.models import F, Q
 from planetstack.config import Config
 from observer.openstacksyncstep import OpenStackSyncStep
 from core.models.sliver import Sliver
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slivers.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slivers.py
index 74a1b50..900840d 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slivers.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_slivers.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import base64
+from django.db.models import F, Q
 from planetstack.config import Config
 from observer.openstacksyncstep import OpenStackSyncStep
 from core.models.sliver import Sliver
diff --git a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_users.py b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_users.py
index f222b43..00c9896 100644
--- a/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_users.py
+++ b/planetstack/observer/steps/sync_users.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import os
 import base64
+from django.db.models import F, Q
 from planetstack.config import Config
 from observer.openstacksyncstep import OpenStackSyncStep
 from core.models.user import User