diff --git a/ccserver/handlers.py b/ccserver/handlers.py
index 815b21fe3ee711835f9280a43a3d4c139db3f822..b15eb7a75695e79b6a12f51708faaf37cbe09254 100644
--- a/ccserver/handlers.py
+++ b/ccserver/handlers.py
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class ClientHandler(OnlineCCHandler):
         return self._list(query)
 
     def _vm_action(self, query, method, *args, **kwargs):
-        vms = self._list(query)
+        vms = self._list(query + '$vm')
         hypervisors = list(self._server.iter_connected_role('hypervisor'))
         for hv in hypervisors:
             vm_to_start = []