diff --git a/pype9/cmd/simulate.py b/pype9/cmd/simulate.py
index ffa59593..5c522c31 100644
--- a/pype9/cmd/simulate.py
+++ b/pype9/cmd/simulate.py
@@ -244,8 +244,10 @@ def run(argv):
                     signal = seg.spiketrains[0]
                 else:
                     signal = seg.analogsignals[0]
-                logger.info("Playing {} signal into port '{}"
-                            .format(signal, port_name))
+                logger.info("Playing signal (t_start: {}, t_stop: {}, dt: {}) "
+                            "into port '{}"
+                            .format(signal.t_start, signal.t_stop,
+                                    signal.sampling_period, port_name))
                 # Input is an event train or analog signal
                 cell.play(port_name, signal)
             # Set up recorders
diff --git a/pype9/simulate/nest/cells/base.py b/pype9/simulate/nest/cells/base.py
index 82014fec..d3542325 100644
--- a/pype9/simulate/nest/cells/base.py
+++ b/pype9/simulate/nest/cells/base.py
@@ -212,14 +212,16 @@ def play(self, port_name, signal, properties=[]):
                     "Start time of signal played into port '{}' ({}) must "
                     "be greater than device delay ({})".format(
                         port_name, signal.t_start, self.device_delay))
-            self._inputs[port_name] = nest.Create(
-                'step_current_generator', 1,
-                {'amplitude_values': list(
+            step_current_params = {
+                 'amplitude_values': list(
                     numpy.ravel(pq.Quantity(signal, 'pA'))),
                  'amplitude_times': list(numpy.ravel(numpy.asarray(
                      signal.times.rescale(pq.ms))) - self.device_delay_ms),
                  'start': t_start,
-                 'stop': float(signal.t_stop.rescale(pq.ms))})
+                 'stop': float(signal.t_stop.rescale(pq.ms))}
+            logger.info("Kernel: {}".format(nest.GetKernelStatus()))
+            self._inputs[port_name] = nest.Create(
+                'step_current_generator', 1, step_current_params)
             nest.Connect(self._inputs[port_name], self._cell, syn_spec={
                 "receptor_type": self._receive_ports[port_name],
                 'delay': self.device_delay_ms})
diff --git a/test/unittests/test_cmds/test_plot.py b/test/unittests/test_cmds/test_plot.py
index c57f52f4..cfd7cbcf 100644
--- a/test/unittests/test_cmds/test_plot.py
+++ b/test/unittests/test_cmds/test_plot.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def test_single_cell_plot(self, show=False):
         simulate.run(argv.split())
         argv = (
             "catalog://neuron/Izhikevich#SampleIzhikevichFastSpiking "
-            "nest {} 0.01 "
+            "nest {} {} "
             "--record V {} "
             "--init_value U 1.625 pA "
             "--init_value V -65.0 mV "
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def test_single_cell_plot(self, show=False):
             "--build_version Plot "
             "--device_delay 0.5 ms "
             "--min_delay 0.5 ms "
-            .format(self.t_stop, self.cell_signal_path,
+            .format(self.t_stop, self.dt, self.cell_signal_path,
                     in_path=self.cell_input_path))
         simulate.run(argv.split())
         # Run plotting command