diff --git a/reports.py b/reports.py
index d43b20b..13afa94 100644
--- a/reports.py
+++ b/reports.py
@@ -21,24 +21,24 @@ def __init__(self, config, sg_timer, sg_notify):
 		self.sg_notify = sg_notify
 
 		# send startup report
-		if self.config.startup:
+		if 'startup' in self.config:
 			self.sg_notify.notify(self.config.startup, 'Stargate is now running', 'Stargate startup')
 
 		# register for shutdown events
-		sg_signal.add_exit_listener(self.on_exit)
+		if 'shutdown' in self.config:
+			sg_signal.add_exit_listener(self.on_exit)
 
 		# register for logger.exception
-		sg_signal.add_exception_listener(self.on_exception)
+		if 'exception' in self.config:
+			sg_signal.add_exception_listener(self.on_exception)
 
 		# install timers for interval summaries
 		# TODO...
 
 	def on_exception(self):
-		if self.config.exception:
-			report = traceback.format_exc();
-			self.sg_notify.notify(self.config.exception, report, 'Stargate exception report')
+		report = traceback.format_exc();
+		self.sg_notify.notify(self.config.exception, report, 'Stargate exception report')
 
 	def on_exit(self):
 		# send shutdown report
-		if self.config.shutdown:
-			self.sg_notify.notify(self.config.shutdown, 'Stargate has stopped', 'Stargate shutdown')
+		self.sg_notify.notify(self.config.shutdown, 'Stargate has stopped', 'Stargate shutdown')
diff --git a/sg_house.py b/sg_house.py
index 2bcdbc7..f90e5d6 100644
--- a/sg_house.py
+++ b/sg_house.py
@@ -253,8 +253,9 @@ def __init__(self, config):
 		self.notify = notify.SgNotify(config.notifications)         # SgNotify instance
 		self.persist = persistence.SgPersistence(config.database,   # SgPersistence instance
 			                                     self.events, self.timer)
-		self.reports = reports.SgReporter(config.reporting,         # SgReporter instance
-			                              self.timer, self.notify)
+		if config.get('reporting'):
+			self.reports = reports.SgReporter(config.reporting,     # SgReporter instance
+				                              self.timer, self.notify)
 		self.watchdog = connections.SgWatchdog()                    # SgWatchdog instance
 		self.areas_by_name = {}										# Map from area name to area object
 		self.devices_by_id = {}										# Map from device id to device object