diff --git a/shell/PresenceService/Buddy.py b/shell/PresenceService/Buddy.py
index ae223c23..238e0d49 100644
--- a/shell/PresenceService/Buddy.py
+++ b/shell/PresenceService/Buddy.py
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ class BuddyDBusHelper(dbus.service.Object):
 	def LeftActivity(self, object_path):
 		pass
 
+	@dbus.service.signal(BUDDY_DBUS_INTERFACE,
+						signature="as")
+	def PropertyChanged(self, prop_list):
+		pass
+
 	@dbus.service.method(BUDDY_DBUS_INTERFACE,
 						in_signature="", out_signature="ay")
 	def getIcon(self):
@@ -73,7 +78,9 @@ class BuddyDBusHelper(dbus.service.Object):
 	def getProperties(self):
 		props = {}
 		props['name'] = self._parent.get_name()
-		props['ip4_address'] = self._parent.get_address()
+		addr = self._parent.get_address()
+		if addr:
+			props['ip4_address'] = addr
 		props['owner'] = self._parent.is_owner()
 		color = self._parent.get_color()
 		if color:
@@ -174,6 +181,8 @@ class Buddy(object):
 			print 'Requesting buddy icon %s' % self._nick_name
 			self._request_buddy_icon(service)
 			self._color = service.get_one_property('color')
+			if self._color:
+				self._dbus_helper.PropertyChanged(['color'])
 
 		if self._valid:
 			self._dbus_helper.ServiceAppeared(service.object_path())
@@ -290,8 +299,9 @@ class Owner(Buddy):
 		# service added to the Owner determines the owner's address
 		source_addr = service.get_source_address()
 		if self._address is None:
-			if source_addr in self._ps.is_local_ip_address(source_addr):
+			if self._ps.is_local_ip_address(source_addr):
 				self._address = source_addr
+				self._dbus_helper.PropertyChanged(['ip4_address'])
 		return Buddy.add_service(self, service)
 
 	def is_owner(self):
diff --git a/sugar/presence/Buddy.py b/sugar/presence/Buddy.py
index dc5427d7..7d4f9ac0 100644
--- a/sugar/presence/Buddy.py
+++ b/sugar/presence/Buddy.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ class Buddy(gobject.GObject):
 		'joined-activity': (gobject.SIGNAL_RUN_FIRST, gobject.TYPE_NONE,
 						 ([gobject.TYPE_PYOBJECT])),
 		'left-activity': (gobject.SIGNAL_RUN_FIRST, gobject.TYPE_NONE,
+						 ([gobject.TYPE_PYOBJECT])),
+		'property-changed': (gobject.SIGNAL_RUN_FIRST, gobject.TYPE_NONE,
 						 ([gobject.TYPE_PYOBJECT]))
 	}
 
@@ -34,9 +36,7 @@ class Buddy(gobject.GObject):
 		self._buddy.connect_to_signal('JoinedActivity', self._joined_activity_cb)
 		self._buddy.connect_to_signal('LeftActivity', self._left_activity_cb)
 		self._buddy.connect_to_signal('PropertyChanged', self._property_changed_cb)
-		self._properties = self._buddy.getProperties()
-		if not self._properties.has_key('color'):
-			self._properties['color'] = "#deadbe"
+		self._property_changed_cb([])
 
 	def object_path(self):
 		return self._object_path
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ class Buddy(gobject.GObject):
 
 	def _handle_property_changed_signal(self, prop_list):
 		self._properties = self._buddy.getProperties()
+		self.emit('property-changed', prop_list)
+		return False
 
 	def _property_changed_cb(self, prop_list):
 		gobject.idle_add(self._handle_property_changed_signal, prop_list)