diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/core.py b/confluent_server/confluent/core.py
index a6492611..5d074d38 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/core.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/core.py
@@ -234,12 +234,10 @@ def _init_core():
                     'default': 'ipmi',
                 }),
                 'updates': {
-                    'active': {
-                        PluginCollection({
+                    'active': PluginCollection({
                             'pluginattrs': ['hardwaremanagement.method'],
                             'default': 'ipmi',
-                        }),
-                    },
+                    }),
                 },
             },
         },
diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/firmwaremanager.py b/confluent_server/confluent/firmwaremanager.py
index 721c6544..25acc280 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/firmwaremanager.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/firmwaremanager.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def execupdate(handler, filename, updateobj):
         updateobj.handle_progress({'phase': 'complete', 'progress': 100.0})
     except Exception as e:
         updateobj.handle_progress({'phase': 'error', 'progress': 0.0,
-                                   'detail': repr(e)})
+                                   'detail': str(e)})
 
 class Updater(object):
     def __init__(self, node, handler, filename, tenant=None, name=None):