diff --git a/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py b/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py
index 4ed8a9ecff62..651ec47f9997 100644
--- a/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py
+++ b/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py
@@ -984,7 +984,7 @@ class CloudController(object):
         except exception.NotFound:
             raise exception.NotFound(_('Image %s not found') % image_id)
         result = {'imageId': image_id, 'launchPermission': []}
-        if image['properties']['is_public']:
+        if image['is_public']:
             result['launchPermission'].append({'group': 'all'})
         return result
 
@@ -1009,7 +1009,7 @@ class CloudController(object):
         internal_id = image['id']
         del(image['id'])
 
-        image['properties']['is_public'] = (operation_type == 'add')
+        image['is_public'] = (operation_type == 'add')
         return self.image_service.update(context, internal_id, image)
 
     def update_image(self, context, image_id, **kwargs):
diff --git a/nova/tests/test_cloud.py b/nova/tests/test_cloud.py
index 5cb969979154..5f76a9005639 100644
--- a/nova/tests/test_cloud.py
+++ b/nova/tests/test_cloud.py
@@ -247,6 +247,37 @@ class CloudTestCase(test.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(NotFound, describe_images,
                           self.context, ['ami-fake'])
 
+    def test_describe_image_attribute(self):
+        describe_image_attribute = self.cloud.describe_image_attribute
+
+        def fake_show(meh, context, id):
+            return {'id': 1, 'properties': {'kernel_id': 1, 'ramdisk_id': 1,
+                    'type': 'machine'}, 'is_public': True}
+
+        self.stubs.Set(local.LocalImageService, 'show', fake_show)
+        self.stubs.Set(local.LocalImageService, 'show_by_name', fake_show)
+        result = describe_image_attribute(self.context, 'ami-00000001',
+                                          'launchPermission')
+        self.assertEqual([{'group': 'all'}], result['launchPermission'])
+
+    def test_modify_image_attribute(self):
+        modify_image_attribute = self.cloud.modify_image_attribute
+
+        def fake_show(meh, context, id):
+            return {'id': 1, 'properties': {'kernel_id': 1, 'ramdisk_id': 1,
+                    'type': 'machine'}, 'is_public': False}
+
+        def fake_update(meh, context, image_id, metadata, data=None):
+            return metadata
+
+        self.stubs.Set(local.LocalImageService, 'show', fake_show)
+        self.stubs.Set(local.LocalImageService, 'show_by_name', fake_show)
+        self.stubs.Set(local.LocalImageService, 'update', fake_update)
+        result = modify_image_attribute(self.context, 'ami-00000001',
+                                          'launchPermission', 'add',
+                                           user_group=['all'])
+        self.assertEqual(True, result['is_public'])
+
     def test_console_output(self):
         instance_type = FLAGS.default_instance_type
         max_count = 1