diff --git a/xos/core/models/instance.py b/xos/core/models/instance.py
index 684fcdc..86774b0 100644
--- a/xos/core/models/instance.py
+++ b/xos/core/models/instance.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
     parent = models.ForeignKey("Instance", null=True, blank=True, help_text="Parent Instance for containers nested inside of VMs")
 
     def get_controller (self):
-        return node.site_deployment.controller
+        return self.node.site_deployment.controller
 
     def __unicode__(self):
         if self.name and Slice.objects.filter(id=self.slice_id) and (self.name != self.slice.name):