diff --git a/GPy/kern/__init__.py b/GPy/kern/__init__.py
index ead4d0fc..cd893bac 100644
--- a/GPy/kern/__init__.py
+++ b/GPy/kern/__init__.py
@@ -2,5 +2,5 @@
 # Licensed under the BSD 3-clause license (see LICENSE.txt)
 
 
-from constructors import rbf, Matern32, Matern52, exponential, linear, white, bias, finite_dimensional, rbf_ARD, spline, Brownian, linear_ARD, rbf_sympy
+from constructors import rbf, Matern32, Matern52, exponential, linear, white, bias, finite_dimensional, rbf_ARD, spline, Brownian, linear_ARD, rbf_sympy, sympykern
 from kern import kern
diff --git a/GPy/kern/constructors.py b/GPy/kern/constructors.py
index 7bbac967..0dd579cc 100644
--- a/GPy/kern/constructors.py
+++ b/GPy/kern/constructors.py
@@ -188,3 +188,9 @@ def rbf_sympy(D,variance=1., lengthscale=1.):
     dist = parse_expr(dist_string)
     f =  rbf_variance*sp.exp(-dist/(2*rbf_lengthscale**2))
     return kern(D,[spkern(D,f,np.array([variance,lengthscale]))])
+
+def sympykern(D,k):
+    """
+    A kernel from a symbolic sympy representation
+    """
+    return kern(D,[spkern(D,k)])
diff --git a/GPy/models/uncollapsed_sparse_GP.py b/GPy/models/uncollapsed_sparse_GP.py
index 3f645ab4..c345d1c5 100644
--- a/GPy/models/uncollapsed_sparse_GP.py
+++ b/GPy/models/uncollapsed_sparse_GP.py
@@ -140,5 +140,5 @@ class uncollapsed_sparse_GP(sparse_GP_regression):
         """
         sparse_GP_regression.plot(self,*args,**kwargs)
         if self.Q==1:
-            pb.errorbar(self.Z[:,0],self.q_u_expectation[0][:,0],yerr=2*np.sqrt(np.diag(self.q_u_cov)),fmt=None,ecolor='b')
+            pb.errorbar(self.Z[:,0],self.q_u_expectation[0][:,0],yerr=2.*np.sqrt(np.diag(self.q_u_cov)),fmt=None,ecolor='b')