diff --git a/poppy/manager/default/ssl_certificate.py b/poppy/manager/default/ssl_certificate.py
index 5bfdae5b..76f883c3 100644
--- a/poppy/manager/default/ssl_certificate.py
+++ b/poppy/manager/default/ssl_certificate.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ import json
 from poppy.distributed_task.taskflow.flow import create_ssl_certificate
 from poppy.distributed_task.taskflow.flow import delete_ssl_certificate
 from poppy.manager import base
+from poppy.model.helpers import domain
+from poppy.transport.validators import helpers as validators
 
 
 class DefaultSSLCertificateController(base.SSLCertificateController):
@@ -31,6 +33,15 @@ class DefaultSSLCertificateController(base.SSLCertificateController):
         self.flavor_controller = self._driver.storage.flavors_controller
 
     def create_ssl_certificate(self, project_id, cert_obj):
+
+        if (not validators.is_valid_domain_name(cert_obj.domain_name)) or \
+                (validators.is_root_domain(
+                    domain.Domain(cert_obj.domain_name).to_dict())):
+            # here created a http domain object but it does not matter http or
+            # https
+            raise ValueError('%s must be a valid non-root domain' %
+                             cert_obj.domain_name)
+
         try:
             flavor = self.flavor_controller.get(cert_obj.flavor_id)
         # raise a lookup error if the flavor is not found
diff --git a/poppy/provider/akamai/services.py b/poppy/provider/akamai/services.py
index 9e50d5c4..01946f9a 100644
--- a/poppy/provider/akamai/services.py
+++ b/poppy/provider/akamai/services.py
@@ -551,10 +551,12 @@ class ServiceController(base.ServiceBase):
                     self.mod_san_queue.enqueue_mod_san_request(
                         json.dumps(cert_obj.to_dict()))
                     return self.responder.ssl_certificate_provisioned(None, {
-                        'status': 'failed',
+                        'status': 'create_in_progress',
                         'san cert': None,
                         'action': 'No available san cert for %s right now,'
-                                  ' or no san cert info available.'
+                                  ' or no san cert info available. Support:'
+                                  'Please write down the domain and keep an'
+                                  ' eye on next availabe freed-up SAN certs.'
                                   ' More provisioning might be needed' %
                                   (cert_obj.domain_name)
                     })
diff --git a/tests/api/ssl_certificate/data_create_ssl_certificate.json b/tests/api/ssl_certificate/data_create_ssl_certificate.json
index 772b9f40..d1653b09 100644
--- a/tests/api/ssl_certificate/data_create_ssl_certificate.json
+++ b/tests/api/ssl_certificate/data_create_ssl_certificate.json
@@ -2,9 +2,5 @@
     "create_san_test_1": {
         "cert_type": "san",
         "domain_name": "www.abc.com"
-    },
-    "root_domain": {
-        "cert_type": "san",
-        "domain_name": "abc.com"
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/api/ssl_certificate/data_create_ssl_certificate_negative.json b/tests/api/ssl_certificate/data_create_ssl_certificate_negative.json
index 32137c47..d703c462 100644
--- a/tests/api/ssl_certificate/data_create_ssl_certificate_negative.json
+++ b/tests/api/ssl_certificate/data_create_ssl_certificate_negative.json
@@ -34,5 +34,9 @@
     "empty_cert": {
         "cert_type": "",
         "domain_name": "meowmeow.com"
+    },
+    "root_domain": {
+        "cert_type": "san",
+        "domain_name": "abc.com"
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/functional/transport/pecan/controllers/data_create_ssl_certificate_bad_input_json.json b/tests/functional/transport/pecan/controllers/data_create_ssl_certificate_bad_input_json.json
index f52fd1f5..5b7788df 100644
--- a/tests/functional/transport/pecan/controllers/data_create_ssl_certificate_bad_input_json.json
+++ b/tests/functional/transport/pecan/controllers/data_create_ssl_certificate_bad_input_json.json
@@ -24,5 +24,10 @@
         "cert_type": "san",
         "domain_name": "www.abc.com",
         "flavor_id": "mock"
+    },
+    "with_root_domain": {
+        "cert_type": "san",
+        "domain_name": "abc.com",
+        "flavor_id": "mock"
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file