diff --git a/ceilometer/compute/instance.py b/ceilometer/compute/instance.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ad8862dfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ceilometer/compute/instance.py
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+# -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-
+#
+# Copyright © 2012 New Dream Network, LLC (DreamHost)
+#
+# Author: Doug Hellmann <doug.hellmann@dreamhost.com>
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+"""Common code for working with instances
+"""
+
+INSTANCE_PROPERTIES = [
+    # Identity properties
+    'display_name',
+    'reservation_id',
+    # Type properties
+    'architecture'
+    # Location properties
+    'availability_zone',
+    # Image properties
+    'image_ref',
+    'image_ref_url',
+    'kernel_id',
+    'os_type',
+    'ramdisk_id',
+    # Capacity properties
+    'disk_gb',
+    'ephemeral_gb',
+    'memory_mb',
+    'root_gb',
+    'vcpus',
+    ]
+
+
+def get_metadata_from_event(body):
+    """Return a metadata dictionary for the instance mentioned in the
+    notification event.
+    """
+    instance = body['payload']
+    metadata = {
+        'event_type': body['event_type'],
+        'instance_type': instance['instance_type_id'],
+        'host': body['publisher_id'],
+        }
+    for name in INSTANCE_PROPERTIES:
+        metadata[name] = instance.get(name, u'')
+    return metadata
+
+
+def get_metadata_from_dbobject(instance):
+    """Return a metadata dictionary for the instance.
+    """
+    metadata = {
+        'display_name': instance.display_name,
+        'instance_type': (instance.instance_type.flavorid
+                          if instance.instance_type
+                          else None),
+        'host': instance.host,
+        }
+    for name in INSTANCE_PROPERTIES:
+        metadata[name] = instance.get(name, u'')
+    return metadata
diff --git a/ceilometer/compute/libvirt.py b/ceilometer/compute/libvirt.py
index f29717bc7..25bdb9b22 100644
--- a/ceilometer/compute/libvirt.py
+++ b/ceilometer/compute/libvirt.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import nova.virt.connection
 from ceilometer import log
 from ceilometer import counter
 from ceilometer import plugin
-
+from ceilometer.compute import instance as compute_instance
 
 FLAGS = flags.FLAGS
 
@@ -44,11 +44,8 @@ def make_counter_from_instance(instance, name, type, volume):
         resource_id=instance.uuid,
         timestamp=datetime.datetime.utcnow().isoformat(),
         duration=None,
-        resource_metadata={
-            'display_name': instance.display_name,
-            'instance_type': instance.instance_type.flavorid,
-            'host': instance.host,
-            },
+        resource_metadata=compute_instance.get_metadata_from_dbobject(
+            instance),
         )
 
 
diff --git a/ceilometer/compute/notifications.py b/ceilometer/compute/notifications.py
index bf7e9a055..9819b9032 100644
--- a/ceilometer/compute/notifications.py
+++ b/ceilometer/compute/notifications.py
@@ -20,43 +20,7 @@
 
 from ceilometer import counter
 from ceilometer import plugin
-
-INSTANCE_PROPERTIES = [
-    # Identity properties
-    'display_name',
-    'reservation_id',
-    # Type properties
-    'architecture'
-    # Location properties
-    'availability_zone',
-    # Image properties
-    'image_ref',
-    'image_ref_url',
-    'kernel_id',
-    'os_type',
-    'ramdisk_id',
-    # Capacity properties
-    'disk_gb',
-    'ephemeral_gb',
-    'memory_mb',
-    'root_gb',
-    'vcpus',
-    ]
-
-
-def get_instance_metadata_from_event(body):
-    """Return a metadata dictionary for the instance mentioned in the
-    notification event.
-    """
-    instance = body['payload']
-    metadata = {
-        'event_type': body['event_type'],
-        'instance_type': instance['instance_type_id'],
-        'host': body['publisher_id'],
-        }
-    for name in INSTANCE_PROPERTIES:
-        metadata[name] = instance.get(name, u'')
-    return metadata
+from ceilometer.compute import instance
 
 
 def c1(body):
@@ -71,7 +35,7 @@ def c1(body):
         resource_id=body['payload']['instance_id'],
         timestamp=body['timestamp'],
         duration=0,
-        resource_metadata=get_instance_metadata_from_event(body),
+        resource_metadata=instance.get_metadata_from_event(body),
         )
 
 
diff --git a/tests/compute/test_instance.py b/tests/compute/test_instance.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a9a11f2ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/compute/test_instance.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+# -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-
+#
+# Copyright © 2012 New Dream Network, LLC (DreamHost)
+#
+# Author: Doug Hellmann <doug.hellmann@dreamhost.com>
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+"""Tests for ceilometer.compute.instance
+"""
+
+from nova import context
+from nova import flags
+from nova import test
+from nova import db
+
+from ceilometer.compute import instance
+from ceilometer.agent import manager
+
+
+class TestLocationMetadata(test.TestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.context = context.RequestContext('admin', 'admin', is_admin=True)
+        self.manager = manager.AgentManager()
+        super(TestLocationMetadata, self).setUp()
+        self.instance = db.instance_create(self.context, {})
+
+    def test_metadata(self):
+        md = instance.get_metadata_from_dbobject(self.instance)
+        for name in instance.INSTANCE_PROPERTIES:
+            assert name in md