diff --git a/lib/ohai/plugins/linux/virtualization.rb b/lib/ohai/plugins/linux/virtualization.rb
index 4ac4d2123..189bf4443 100644
--- a/lib/ohai/plugins/linux/virtualization.rb
+++ b/lib/ohai/plugins/linux/virtualization.rb
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ def docker_exists?
     which("docker")
   end
 
+  def nova_exists?
+    which("nova")
+  end
+
   collect_data(:linux) do
     virtualization Mash.new unless virtualization
     virtualization[:systems] = Mash.new unless virtualization[:systems]
@@ -74,6 +78,13 @@ def docker_exists?
       end
     end
 
+    # if nova binary is present we're on an openstack host
+    if nova_exists?
+      virtualization[:system] = "openstack"
+      virtualization[:role] = "host"
+      virtualization[:systems][:openstack] = "host"
+    end
+
     # Detect paravirt KVM/QEMU from cpuinfo, report as KVM
     if File.exist?("/proc/cpuinfo")
       if File.read("/proc/cpuinfo") =~ /QEMU Virtual CPU|Common KVM processor|Common 32-bit KVM processor/
diff --git a/lib/ohai/util/file_helper.rb b/lib/ohai/util/file_helper.rb
index 1f78d5a61..5b08e2db7 100644
--- a/lib/ohai/util/file_helper.rb
+++ b/lib/ohai/util/file_helper.rb
@@ -25,8 +25,12 @@ def which(cmd)
         paths = ENV["PATH"].split(File::PATH_SEPARATOR) + [ "/bin", "/usr/bin", "/sbin", "/usr/sbin" ]
         paths.each do |path|
           filename = File.join(path, cmd)
-          return filename if File.executable?(filename)
+          if File.executable?(filename)
+            Ohai::Log.debug("#{self.name} plugin: found #{cmd} at #{filename}")
+            return filename
+          end
         end
+        Ohai::Log.debug("#{self.name} plugin: did not find #{cmd}")
         false
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/unit/plugins/linux/virtualization_spec.rb b/spec/unit/plugins/linux/virtualization_spec.rb
index 1c6d82589..cb148acd3 100644
--- a/spec/unit/plugins/linux/virtualization_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/plugins/linux/virtualization_spec.rb
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@
     allow(File).to receive(:exist?).with("/.dockerinit").and_return(false)
     allow(File).to receive(:exist?).with("/proc/bus/pci/devices").and_return(false)
     allow(File).to receive(:exist?).with("/sys/devices/virtual/misc/kvm").and_return(false)
+
+    # default the which wrappers to nil
+    allow(plugin).to receive(:lxc_version_exists?).and_return(false)
+    allow(plugin).to receive(:docker_exists?).and_return(false)
+    allow(plugin).to receive(:nova_exists?).and_return(false)
   end
 
   describe "when we are checking for xen" do
@@ -77,6 +82,16 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe "when we are checking for openstack" do
+    it "sets openstack host if nova binary exists" do
+      allow(plugin).to receive(:nova_exists?).and_return("/usr/bin/nova")
+      plugin.run
+      expect(plugin[:virtualization][:system]).to eq("openstack")
+      expect(plugin[:virtualization][:role]).to eq("host")
+      expect(plugin[:virtualization][:systems][:openstack]).to eq("host")
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "when we are checking for kvm" do
     it "sets kvm guest if /sys/devices/virtual/misc/kvm exists & hypervisor cpu feature is present" do
       allow(File).to receive(:exist?).with("/sys/devices/virtual/misc/kvm").and_return(true)
diff --git a/spec/unit/util/file_helper_spec.rb b/spec/unit/util/file_helper_spec.rb
index be68a321f..f6c91cb1e 100644
--- a/spec/unit/util/file_helper_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/util/file_helper_spec.rb
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class FileHelperMock
   let(:file_helper) { FileHelperMock.new }
 
   before(:each) do
+    allow(file_helper).to receive(:name).and_return("Fakeclass")
     allow(File).to receive(:executable?).and_return(false)
   end