diff --git a/instances/views.py b/instances/views.py
index e81c35d..86a5608 100644
--- a/instances/views.py
+++ b/instances/views.py
@@ -313,10 +313,14 @@ def instance(request, compute_id, vname):
 
         if request.method == 'POST':
             if 'poweron' in request.POST:
-                conn.start()
-                msg = _("Power On")
-                addlogmsg(request.user.username, instance.name, msg)
-                return HttpResponseRedirect(request.get_full_path() + '#poweron')
+                if instance.is_template:
+                    msg = _("Templates cannot be started.")
+                    error_messages.append(msg)
+                else:
+                    conn.start()
+                    msg = _("Power On")
+                    addlogmsg(request.user.username, instance.name, msg)
+                    return HttpResponseRedirect(request.get_full_path() + '#poweron')
 
             if 'powercycle' in request.POST:
                 conn.force_shutdown()
@@ -904,10 +908,14 @@ def instances_actions(request):
                         instance.compute.password,
                         instance.compute.type)
     if 'poweron' in request.POST:
-        msg = _("Power On")
-        addlogmsg(request.user.username, instance.name, msg)
-        conn.start(name)
-        return HttpResponseRedirect(request.get_full_path())
+        if instance.is_template:
+            msg = _("Templates cannot be started.")
+            messages.error(request, msg)
+        else:
+            msg = _("Power On")
+            addlogmsg(request.user.username, instance.name, msg)
+            conn.start(name)
+            return HttpResponseRedirect(request.get_full_path())
 
     if 'poweroff' in request.POST:
         msg = _("Power Off")