diff --git a/blivet/devices/disk.py b/blivet/devices/disk.py
index 39acea291..c727c74e4 100644
--- a/blivet/devices/disk.py
+++ b/blivet/devices/disk.py
@@ -105,7 +105,11 @@ def mediaPresent(self):
 
     @property
     def description(self):
-        return self.model
+        desc = self.vendor
+        if desc:
+            desc += " "
+        desc += self.model
+        return desc
 
     def _preDestroy(self):
         """ Destroy the device. """
diff --git a/blivet/devices/storage.py b/blivet/devices/storage.py
index 052b3975b..87181ace9 100644
--- a/blivet/devices/storage.py
+++ b/blivet/devices/storage.py
@@ -113,8 +113,8 @@ def __init__(self, name, fmt=None, uuid=None,
         self.major = util.numeric_type(major)
         self.minor = util.numeric_type(minor)
         self._serial = serial
-        self._vendor = vendor
-        self._model = model
+        self._vendor = vendor or ""
+        self._model = model or ""
         self.bus = bus
 
         self._readonly = False
diff --git a/blivet/populator.py b/blivet/populator.py
index 1a213455e..157178ae0 100644
--- a/blivet/populator.py
+++ b/blivet/populator.py
@@ -476,12 +476,10 @@ def addUdevDiskDevice(self, info):
         serial = udev.device_get_serial(info)
         bus = udev.device_get_bus(info)
 
-        # udev doesn't always provide a vendor.
-        vendor = udev.device_get_vendor(info)
-        if not vendor:
-            vendor = ""
+        vendor = util.get_sysfs_attr(sysfs_path, "device/vendor")
+        model = util.get_sysfs_attr(sysfs_path, "device/model")
 
-        kwargs = { "serial": serial, "vendor": vendor, "bus": bus }
+        kwargs = { "serial": serial, "vendor": vendor, "model": model, "bus": bus }
         if udev.device_is_iscsi(info):
             diskType = iScsiDiskDevice
             initiator = udev.device_get_iscsi_initiator(info)
@@ -561,7 +559,6 @@ def addUdevDiskDevice(self, info):
         device = diskType(name,
                           major=udev.device_get_major(info),
                           minor=udev.device_get_minor(info),
-                          model=udev.device_get_model(info),
                           sysfsPath=sysfs_path, **kwargs)
 
         if diskType == DASDDevice: