diff --git a/bundles/vmhost/files/check_vm_status b/bundles/vmhost/files/check_vm_status
index d75d610..82d2227 100644
--- a/bundles/vmhost/files/check_vm_status
+++ b/bundles/vmhost/files/check_vm_status
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from subprocess import check_output
 from sys import exit
 
 try:
-    result = check_output(['virsh', '--readonly', 'list', '--all']).decode('utf-8').split('\n')
+    result = check_output(['virsh', '--readonly', 'list', '--all']).decode('utf-8').splitlines()
 except Exception as e:
     # If something fails, this means libvirt is not responding. This is
     # an error.
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ for vm in result[2:]:
 
     info = vm.split()
 
+    if info[1].startswith('EXCLUDE_FROM_MONITORING_'):
+        continue
+
     if info[2] in {'crashed', 'dying'}:
         crashed.add('{}: {}'.format(info[1], info[2]))
     elif info[2] in {'running'}: