diff --git a/nova/tests/xenapi/stubs.py b/nova/tests/xenapi/stubs.py
index 299efd7e0a04..e026f8eb5824 100644
--- a/nova/tests/xenapi/stubs.py
+++ b/nova/tests/xenapi/stubs.py
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ class FakeSessionForVolumeFailedTests(FakeSessionForVolumeTests):
 
 
 def stub_out_migration_methods(stubs):
-    def fake_create_snapshot(self, instance):
+    def fake_create_snapshot(session, instance, vm_ref, label):
         return 'vm_ref', dict(image='foo', snap='bar')
 
     def fake_move_disks(self, instance, disk_info):
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ def stub_out_migration_methods(stubs):
     stubs.Set(vmops.VMOps, '_move_disks', fake_move_disks)
     stubs.Set(vm_utils, 'scan_default_sr', fake_sr)
     stubs.Set(vm_utils, '_scan_sr', fake_sr)
-    stubs.Set(vmops.VMOps, '_create_snapshot', fake_create_snapshot)
+    stubs.Set(vm_utils, 'create_snapshot', fake_create_snapshot)
     stubs.Set(vm_utils, 'get_vdi_for_vm_safely', fake_get_vdi)
     stubs.Set(vm_utils, 'get_sr_path', fake_get_sr_path)
     stubs.Set(vm_utils, 'generate_ephemeral', fake_generate_ephemeral)
diff --git a/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py b/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py
index ca49d508fffd..0a0ab9e71106 100644
--- a/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py
+++ b/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py
@@ -430,6 +430,16 @@ def get_vdi_for_vm_safely(session, vm_ref):
 
 
 def create_snapshot(session, instance, vm_ref, label):
+    LOG.debug(_("Starting snapshot for VM"), instance=instance)
+    try:
+        return _create_snapshot(session, instance, vm_ref, label)
+    except session.XenAPI.Failure, exc:
+        LOG.error(_("Unable to Snapshot instance: %(exc)s"), locals(),
+                  instance=instance)
+        raise
+
+
+def _create_snapshot(session, instance, vm_ref, label):
     """Creates Snapshot (Template) VM, Snapshot VBD, Snapshot VDI,
     Snapshot VHD"""
     LOG.debug(_("Snapshotting with label '%(label)s'"), locals(),
diff --git a/nova/virt/xenapi/vmops.py b/nova/virt/xenapi/vmops.py
index cf1d361f99d4..0b7be1351ac9 100644
--- a/nova/virt/xenapi/vmops.py
+++ b/nova/virt/xenapi/vmops.py
@@ -601,38 +601,21 @@ class VMOps(object):
            Glance.
 
         """
-        template_vm_ref = None
+        vm_ref = self._get_vm_opaque_ref(instance)
+        label = "%s-snapshot" % instance.name
+        template_vm_ref, template_vdi_uuids = vm_utils.create_snapshot(
+                self._session, instance, vm_ref, label)
+
         try:
-            _snapshot_info = self._create_snapshot(instance)
-            template_vm_ref, template_vdi_uuids = _snapshot_info
-            # call plugin to ship snapshot off to glance
-            vm_utils.upload_image(context,
-                    self._session, instance, template_vdi_uuids, image_id)
+            vm_utils.upload_image(context, self._session, instance,
+                                  template_vdi_uuids, image_id)
         finally:
-            if template_vm_ref:
-                self._destroy(instance, template_vm_ref,
-                              destroy_kernel_ramdisk=False)
+            self._destroy(instance, template_vm_ref,
+                          destroy_kernel_ramdisk=False)
 
         LOG.debug(_("Finished snapshot and upload for VM"),
                   instance=instance)
 
-    def _create_snapshot(self, instance):
-        #TODO(sirp): Add quiesce and VSS locking support when Windows support
-        # is added
-
-        LOG.debug(_("Starting snapshot for VM"), instance=instance)
-        vm_ref = self._get_vm_opaque_ref(instance)
-
-        label = "%s-snapshot" % instance.name
-        try:
-            template_vm_ref, template_vdi_uuids = vm_utils.create_snapshot(
-                    self._session, instance, vm_ref, label)
-            return template_vm_ref, template_vdi_uuids
-        except self._session.XenAPI.Failure, exc:
-            LOG.error(_("Unable to Snapshot instance: %(exc)s"), locals(),
-                      instance=instance)
-            raise
-
     def _migrate_vhd(self, instance, vdi_uuid, dest, sr_path):
         instance_uuid = instance['uuid']
         params = {'host': dest,
@@ -693,8 +676,10 @@ class VMOps(object):
         template_vdi_uuids = template_vm_ref = None
         try:
             # 1. Create Snapshot
-            _snapshot_info = self._create_snapshot(instance)
-            template_vm_ref, template_vdi_uuids = _snapshot_info
+            label = "%s-snapshot" % instance.name
+            template_vm_ref, template_vdi_uuids = vm_utils.create_snapshot(
+                    self._session, instance, vm_ref, label)
+
             self._update_instance_progress(context, instance,
                                            step=1,
                                            total_steps=RESIZE_TOTAL_STEPS)