diff --git a/.taskcluster.yml b/.taskcluster.yml
index 7676e4235f85..a1a4914339dd 100644
--- a/.taskcluster.yml
+++ b/.taskcluster.yml
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ tasks:
         - "index.gecko.v2.{{project}}.latest.firefox.decision"
         - "tc-treeherder.v2.{{project}}.{{revision}}.{{pushlog_id}}"
         - "tc-treeherder-stage.v2.{{project}}.{{revision}}.{{pushlog_id}}"
+        - "notify.email.{{owner}}.on-failed"
+        - "notify.email.{{owner}}.on-exception"
 
       payload:
         env:
diff --git a/taskcluster/taskgraph/try_option_syntax.py b/taskcluster/taskgraph/try_option_syntax.py
index ce9e6e20647f..5f174b3df3b8 100644
--- a/taskcluster/taskgraph/try_option_syntax.py
+++ b/taskcluster/taskgraph/try_option_syntax.py
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ def parse_message(message):
     # In order to run test jobs multiple times
     parser.add_argument('--rebuild', dest='trigger_tests', type=int, default=1)
     parts = parts[try_idx:] if try_idx is not None else []
-    args, _ = parser.parse_known_args(parts[try_idx:])
+    args, _ = parser.parse_known_args(parts)
     return args
 
 
@@ -306,8 +306,8 @@ class TryOptionSyntax(object):
         assert args is not None
 
         self.jobs = self.parse_jobs(args.jobs)
-        self.build_types = self.parse_build_types(args.build_types)
-        self.platforms = self.parse_platforms(args.platforms)
+        self.build_types = self.parse_build_types(args.build_types, full_task_graph)
+        self.platforms = self.parse_platforms(args.platforms, full_task_graph)
         self.unittests = self.parse_test_option(
             "unittest_try_name", args.unittests, full_task_graph)
         self.talos = self.parse_test_option("talos_try_name", args.talos, full_task_graph)
@@ -329,14 +329,23 @@ class TryOptionSyntax(object):
             expanded.extend(j.strip() for j in job.split(','))
         return expanded
 
-    def parse_build_types(self, build_types_arg):
+    def parse_build_types(self, build_types_arg, full_task_graph):
         if build_types_arg is None:
             build_types_arg = []
+
         build_types = filter(None, [BUILD_TYPE_ALIASES.get(build_type) for
                              build_type in build_types_arg])
+
+        all_types = set(t.attributes['build_type']
+                        for t in full_task_graph.tasks.itervalues()
+                        if 'build_type' in t.attributes)
+        bad_types = set(build_types) - all_types
+        if bad_types:
+            raise Exception("Unknown build type(s) [%s] specified for try" % ','.join(bad_types))
+
         return build_types
 
-    def parse_platforms(self, platform_arg):
+    def parse_platforms(self, platform_arg, full_task_graph):
         if platform_arg == 'all':
             return None
 
@@ -348,6 +357,17 @@ class TryOptionSyntax(object):
                 logger.info("platform %s triggers ridealong builds %s" %
                             (build, ', '.join(RIDEALONG_BUILDS[build])))
 
+        test_platforms = set(t.attributes['test_platform']
+                             for t in full_task_graph.tasks.itervalues()
+                             if 'test_platform' in t.attributes)
+        build_platforms = set(t.attributes['build_platform']
+                              for t in full_task_graph.tasks.itervalues()
+                              if 'build_platform' in t.attributes)
+        all_platforms = test_platforms | build_platforms
+        bad_platforms = set(results) - all_platforms
+        if bad_platforms:
+            raise Exception("Unknown platform(s) [%s] specified for try" % ','.join(bad_platforms))
+
         return results
 
     def parse_test_option(self, attr_name, test_arg, full_task_graph):