diff --git a/opencloud.spec b/opencloud.spec
index 5831006..f56e858 100644
--- a/opencloud.spec
+++ b/opencloud.spec
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Summary: OpenCloud core services
 Name: opencloud
-Version: 1.0.26
-Release: 7
+Version: 1.0.27
+Release: 3
 License: GPL+
 Group: Development/Tools
 Source0: %{_tmppath}/%{name}-%{version}.tar.gz
diff --git a/planetstack/core/models/slice.py b/planetstack/core/models/slice.py
index 12c278b..7915d42 100644
--- a/planetstack/core/models/slice.py
+++ b/planetstack/core/models/slice.py
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@
     def save(self, *args, **kwds):
         
         site = Site.objects.get(id=self.site.id)
-        if not self.name.startswith(site.login_base):
+        # allow preexisting slices to keep their original name for now
+        if not self.id and not self.name.startswith(site.login_base):
             raise ValidationError('slice name must begin with %s' % site.login_base)
         
         if self.serviceClass is None:
diff --git a/planetstack/core/models/sliver.py b/planetstack/core/models/sliver.py
index ec7f266..c694a1e 100644
--- a/planetstack/core/models/sliver.py
+++ b/planetstack/core/models/sliver.py
@@ -59,8 +59,7 @@
             return u'unsaved-sliver'
 
     def save(self, *args, **kwds):
-        if not self.name:
-            self.name = self.slice.name
+        self.name = self.slice.slicename
         if not self.creator and hasattr(self, 'caller'):
             self.creator = self.caller
         self.deploymentNetwork = self.node.deployment
diff --git a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_user_deployments.py b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_user_deployments.py
index 43ca260..0c28392 100644
--- a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_user_deployments.py
+++ b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_user_deployments.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
         user_deployment.save()
 
     def delete_record(self, user_deployment):
-        if user_deployment.user.kuser_id:
+        if user_deployment.kuser_id:
             driver = self.driver.admin_driver(deployment=user_deployment.deployment.name)
-            driver.delete_user(user_deployment.user.kuser_id)
+            driver.delete_user(user_deployment.kuser_id)