diff --git a/configuration/upstart.nix b/configuration/upstart.nix
index f0870159ead..4065a030593 100644
--- a/configuration/upstart.nix
+++ b/configuration/upstart.nix
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import ../upstart-jobs/gather.nix {
       
     # Mount file systems.
     (import ../upstart-jobs/filesystems.nix {
-      inherit (pkgs) utillinux;
+      inherit (pkgs) utillinux e2fsprogs;
       fileSystems = config.get ["fileSystems"];
     })
 
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/filesystems.nix b/upstart-jobs/filesystems.nix
index 6dcb8b3f2cf..c001bf14d8d 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/filesystems.nix
+++ b/upstart-jobs/filesystems.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{utillinux, fileSystems}:
+{utillinux, e2fsprogs, fileSystems}:
 
 let
 
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ start on startup
 start on new-devices
 
 script
+    PATH=${e2fsprogs}/sbin:$PATH
+
     mountPoints=(${toString mountPoints})  
     devices=(${toString devices})
     fsTypes=(${toString fsTypes})
@@ -39,6 +41,11 @@ script
             fsType=\${fsTypes[$n]}
             options=\${optionss[$n]}
 
+            if ! test -e \"$device\"; then
+                echo \"skipping $device, doesn't exist (yet)\"
+                continue
+            fi
+
             # If $device is already mounted somewhere else, unmount it first.
             # !!! Note: we use /etc/mtab, not /proc/mounts, because mtab
             # contains more accurate info when using loop devices.
@@ -63,6 +70,9 @@ script
 
             echo \"mounting $device on $mountPoint\"
 
+            # !!! should do something with the result; also prevent repeated fscks.
+            fsck -a \"$device\" || true
+
             if ${utillinux}/bin/mount -t \"$fsType\" -o \"$options\" \"$device\" \"$mountPoint\"; then
                 newDevices=1
             fi