diff --git a/py/test/rsession/hostmanage.py b/py/test/rsession/hostmanage.py
index 0b175c250..c22f578e6 100644
--- a/py/test/rsession/hostmanage.py
+++ b/py/test/rsession/hostmanage.py
@@ -87,24 +87,24 @@ class HostRSync(py.execnet.RSync):
                     else:
                         return True
 
-    def add_target_host(self, host, reporter=lambda x: None,
-                        destrelpath="", finishedcallback=None):
-        remotepath = host.relpath
-        key = host.hostname, remotepath
-        if host.hostname == "localhost" and not remotepath: 
-            p = py.path.local(host.gw_remotepath)
-            assert p.join(destrelpath) == self._sourcedir
-            self._synced[key] = True
-        if key in self._synced:
-            if finishedcallback:
-                finishedcallback()
-            return False
-        self._synced[key] = True
-        # the follow attributes are set from host.initgateway()
+    def add_target_host(self, host, destrelpath="", reporter=lambda x: None):
+        remotepath = host.gw_remotepath 
+        key = host.hostname, host.relpath
         if destrelpath:
             remotepath = os.path.join(remotepath, destrelpath)
+        if host.hostname == "localhost" and remotepath == self._sourcedir:
+            self._synced[key] = True
+        synced = key in self._synced 
+        reporter(repevent.HostRSyncing(host, self._sourcedir, 
+                                       remotepath, synced))
+        def hostrsynced(host=host):
+            reporter(repevent.HostRSyncRootReady(host, self._sourcedir))
+        if key in self._synced:
+            hostrsynced()
+            return
+        self._synced[key] = True
         super(HostRSync, self).add_target(host.gw, remotepath, 
-                                          finishedcallback,
+                                          finishedcallback=hostrsynced,
                                           delete=True,
                                           )
         return remotepath 
@@ -129,20 +129,15 @@ class HostManager(object):
             host.gw.host = host
 
     def init_rsync(self, reporter):
-        # send each rsync root
         ignores = self.config.getvalue_pathlist("dist_rsync_ignore")
         self.prepare_gateways(reporter)
+        # send each rsync root
         for root in self.roots:
             rsync = HostRSync(root, ignores=ignores, 
                               verbose=self.config.option.verbose)
             destrelpath = root.relto(self.config.topdir)
             for host in self.hosts:
-                def donecallback(host, root):
-                    reporter(repevent.HostRSyncRootReady(host, root))
-                remotepath = rsync.add_target_host(
-                    host, reporter, destrelpath, finishedcallback=
-                    lambda host=host, root=root: donecallback(host, root))
-                reporter(repevent.HostRSyncing(host, root, remotepath))
+                rsync.add_target_host(host, destrelpath, reporter)
             rsync.send(raises=False)
 
     def setup_hosts(self, reporter):
diff --git a/py/test/rsession/repevent.py b/py/test/rsession/repevent.py
index 7992dadd6..b14e50404 100644
--- a/py/test/rsession/repevent.py
+++ b/py/test/rsession/repevent.py
@@ -74,10 +74,11 @@ class CallFinish(CallEvent):
     pass
 
 class HostRSyncing(ReportEvent):
-    def __init__(self, host, root, remotepath):
+    def __init__(self, host, root, remotepath, synced):
         self.host = host
         self.root = root
         self.remotepath = remotepath
+        self.synced = synced
 
 class HostGatewayReady(ReportEvent):
     def __init__(self, host, roots):
diff --git a/py/test/rsession/reporter.py b/py/test/rsession/reporter.py
index f9726af14..8022be339 100644
--- a/py/test/rsession/reporter.py
+++ b/py/test/rsession/reporter.py
@@ -58,11 +58,16 @@ class AbstractReporter(object):
     
     def report_HostRSyncing(self, item):
         hostrepr = self._hostrepr(item.host)
-        if not item.remotepath:
-            print "%15s: skip duplicate rsync of %r" % (
-                    hostrepr, item.root.basename)
+        if item.synced: 
+            if (item.host.hostname == "localhost" and 
+                item.root == item.remotepath):
+                print "%15s: skipping inplace rsync of %r" %(
+                        hostrepr, item.remotepath)
+            else: 
+                print "%15s: skip duplicate rsync to %r" % (
+                        hostrepr, str(item.root))
         else:
-            print "%15s: rsync %r to remote %s" % (hostrepr, 
+            print "%15s: rsync %r to remote %r" % (hostrepr, 
                                                    item.root.basename, 
                                                    item.remotepath)
 
diff --git a/py/test/rsession/testing/test_hostmanage.py b/py/test/rsession/testing/test_hostmanage.py
index 4dcdcef67..862c642d9 100644
--- a/py/test/rsession/testing/test_hostmanage.py
+++ b/py/test/rsession/testing/test_hostmanage.py
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ class TestSyncing(DirSetup):
         rsync = HostRSync(self.source)
         l = []
         h1.initgateway()
+        h2.initgateway()
         res1 = rsync.add_target_host(h1)
         assert res1
         res2 = rsync.add_target_host(h2)
diff --git a/py/test/rsession/testing/test_rest.py b/py/test/rsession/testing/test_rest.py
index 96d734ff9..6e607eed9 100644
--- a/py/test/rsession/testing/test_rest.py
+++ b/py/test/rsession/testing/test_rest.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class TestRestUnits(object):
     
     def test_report_HostRSyncing(self):
         event = repevent.HostRSyncing(HostInfo('localhost:/foo/bar'), "a",
-                                      "b")
+                                      "b", False)
         reporter.report(event)
         assert stdout.getvalue() == ('::\n\n   localhost: RSYNC ==> '
                                      '/foo/bar\n\n')