diff --git a/http.go b/http.go
index 629b973..937f9a7 100644
--- a/http.go
+++ b/http.go
@@ -102,7 +102,9 @@ func okHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		result, err := Start(hostname)
 		if err == nil {
 			fmt.Fprintln(w, result)
-			fmt.Fprintln(w, hostname, "started ok")
+			fmt.Fprintln(w, hostname, "started output ok")
+			fmt.Fprintln(w, hostname, "need to parse the output here")
+			fmt.Fprintln(w, hostname, "todo: switch to protobuf here")
 		} else {
 			fmt.Fprintln(w, result)
 			fmt.Fprintln(w, err)
diff --git a/validate.go b/validate.go
index 5270484..a95ce29 100644
--- a/validate.go
+++ b/validate.go
@@ -230,8 +230,21 @@ func setUniqueSpicePort(check *pb.Droplet) error {
 		if d.SpicePort == 0 {
 			continue
 		}
-		if _, ok := ports[d.SpicePort]; ok {
-			log.Info("duplicate ports", d.SpicePort)
+		if dup, ok := ports[d.SpicePort]; ok {
+			// dup := ports[d.SpicePort]
+			log.Warn("duplicate ports", d.SpicePort, d.Hostname, d.CurrentState)
+			if d.CurrentState != pb.DropletState_ON {
+				// hack for now. should be safe to erase this
+				d.SpicePort = 0
+				log.Warn("erasing port for non-ON droplet", d.SpicePort, d.Hostname, d.CurrentState)
+			}
+			log.Warn("duplicate ports", dup.SpicePort, dup.Hostname, dup.CurrentState)
+			if dup.CurrentState != pb.DropletState_ON {
+				// hack for now. should be safe to erase this
+				dup.SpicePort = 0
+				log.Warn("erasing port for non-ON droplet", dup.SpicePort, dup.Hostname, dup.CurrentState)
+			}
+			// todo: fix this somewhow
 			return errors.New("duplicate ports")
 		}
 		ports[d.SpicePort] = d
@@ -242,7 +255,7 @@ func setUniqueSpicePort(check *pb.Droplet) error {
 	}
 
 	var start int64
-	start = 5900
+	start = 5910
 	for {
 		if start == 6000 {
 			// x11 might use this on dom0's running a desktop