diff --git a/hooks/lxd_utils.py b/hooks/lxd_utils.py
index 2a25b69..6621c60 100644
--- a/hooks/lxd_utils.py
+++ b/hooks/lxd_utils.py
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ LXD_SOURCE_PACKAGES = [
 LXD_GIT = 'github.com/lxc/lxd'
 DEFAULT_LOOPBACK_SIZE = '10G'
 PW_LENGTH = 16
+ZFS_POOL_NAME = 'lxd'
 
 
 def install_lxd():
@@ -232,13 +233,18 @@ def configure_lxd_block():
     elif config('storage-type') == 'zfs':
         status_set('maintenance',
                    'Configuring zfs container storage')
+        if ZFS_POOL_NAME in zpools():
+            log('ZFS pool already exist; skipping zfs configuration')
+            return
+
         if config('overwrite'):
-            cmd = ['zpool', 'create', '-f', 'lxd', dev]
+            cmd = ['zpool', 'create', '-f', ZFS_POOL_NAME, dev]
         else:
-            cmd = ['zpool', 'create', 'lxd', dev]
+            cmd = ['zpool', 'create', ZFS_POOL_NAME, dev]
         check_call(cmd)
 
-        cmd = ['lxc', 'config', 'set', 'storage.zfs_pool_name', 'lxd']
+        cmd = ['lxc', 'config', 'set', 'storage.zfs_pool_name',
+               ZFS_POOL_NAME]
         check_call(cmd)
 
 
@@ -447,3 +453,20 @@ def assess_status():
         status_set('active', 'Unit is ready')
     else:
         status_set('blocked', 'LXD is not running')
+
+
+def zpools():
+    '''
+    Query the currently configured ZFS pools
+
+    @return: list of strings of pool names
+    '''
+    try:
+        zpools = check_output(['zpool', 'list', '-H']).splitlines()
+        pools = []
+        for l in zpools:
+            l = l.decode('UTF-8')
+            pools.append(l.split()[0])
+        return pools
+    except CalledProcessError:
+        return []
diff --git a/unit_tests/test_lxd_utils.py b/unit_tests/test_lxd_utils.py
index 1a7daa9..c5357e5 100644
--- a/unit_tests/test_lxd_utils.py
+++ b/unit_tests/test_lxd_utils.py
@@ -119,3 +119,36 @@ class TestGetBlockDevices(testing.CharmTestCase):
         devices = lxd_utils.get_block_devices()
 
         self.assertEqual(['/dev/vdb', '/dev/vdc'], devices)
+
+
+ZFS_SINGLE_POOL = """testpool    232G    976M    231G    -    7%    0%    1.04x    ONLINE    -
+"""
+
+ZFS_MULTIPLE_POOLS = """testpool    232G    976M    231G    -    7%    0%    1.04x    ONLINE    -
+testpool2    232G    976M    231G    -    7%    0%    1.04x    ONLINE    -
+"""
+
+
+class TestZFSPool(testing.CharmTestCase):
+    """Tests for hooks.lxd_utils.zpools"""
+    TO_PATCH = [
+        'check_output',
+    ]
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestZFSPool, self).setUp(lxd_utils, self.TO_PATCH)
+
+    def test_no_pools(self):
+        """When no pools are configured, an empty list is returned"""
+        self.check_output.return_value = ""
+        self.assertEqual(lxd_utils.zpools(), [])
+
+    def test_single_pool(self):
+        """Return a list with a single pool"""
+        self.check_output.return_value = ZFS_SINGLE_POOL
+        self.assertEqual(lxd_utils.zpools(), ['testpool'])
+
+    def test_multiple_pools(self):
+        """Return a list with a multiple pools"""
+        self.check_output.return_value = ZFS_MULTIPLE_POOLS
+        self.assertEqual(lxd_utils.zpools(), ['testpool', 'testpool2'])