diff --git a/xos/openstack_observer/backend.py b/xos/openstack_observer/backend.py
index 7b67494..48dae2e 100644
--- a/xos/openstack_observer/backend.py
+++ b/xos/openstack_observer/backend.py
@@ -4,23 +4,28 @@
 from observer.event_manager import EventListener
 from util.logger import Logger, logging
 from model_policy import run_policy
+from xos.config import Config
 
 logger = Logger(level=logging.INFO)
 
 class Backend:
-    
+
     def run(self):
-            # start the openstack observer
-            observer = XOSObserver()
-            observer_thread = threading.Thread(target=observer.run)
-            observer_thread.start()
-            
-            # start model policies thread
+        # start the openstack observer
+        observer = XOSObserver()
+        observer_thread = threading.Thread(target=observer.run)
+        observer_thread.start()
+
+        # start model policies thread
+        observer_name = getattr(Config(), "observer_name", "")
+        if (not observer_name):
             model_policy_thread = threading.Thread(target=run_policy)
             model_policy_thread.start()
+        else:
+            print "Skipping model policies thread for service observer."
 
-            # start event listene
-            event_manager = EventListener(wake_up=observer.wake_up)
-            event_manager_thread = threading.Thread(target=event_manager.run)
-            event_manager_thread.start()
 
+        # start event listene
+        #event_manager = EventListener(wake_up=observer.wake_up)
+        #event_manager_thread = threading.Thread(target=event_manager.run)
+        #event_manager_thread.start()