diff --git a/qubes/storage/__init__.py b/qubes/storage/__init__.py
index c081fcb4..f373740a 100644
--- a/qubes/storage/__init__.py
+++ b/qubes/storage/__init__.py
@@ -815,6 +815,17 @@ class Pool(object):
         '''
         raise self._not_implemented("get_volume")
 
+    def included_in(self, app):
+        ''' Check if this pool is physically included in another one
+
+        This works on best-effort basis, because one pool driver may not know
+        all the other drivers.
+
+        :param app: Qubes() object to lookup other pools in
+        :returns pool or None
+        '''
+        pass
+
     @property
     def size(self):
         ''' Storage pool size in bytes '''
@@ -865,6 +876,27 @@ def isodate(seconds=time.time()):
     ''' Helper method which returns an iso date '''
     return datetime.utcfromtimestamp(seconds).isoformat("T")
 
+def search_pool_containing_dir(pools, dir_path):
+    ''' Helper function looking for a pool containing given directory.
+
+    This is useful for implementing Pool.included_in method
+    '''
+
+    # prefer filesystem pools
+    for pool in pools:
+        if hasattr(pool, 'dir_path'):
+            if dir_path.startswith(pool.dir_path):
+                return pool
+
+    # then look for lvm
+    for pool in pools:
+        if hasattr(pool, 'thin_pool') and hasattr(pool, 'volume_group'):
+            if (pool.volume_group, pool.thin_pool) == \
+                    DirectoryThinPool.thin_pool(dir_path):
+                return pool
+
+    return None
+
 
 class VmCreationManager(object):
     ''' A `ContextManager` which cleans up if volume creation fails.
diff --git a/qubes/storage/file.py b/qubes/storage/file.py
index 10c1b304..f598f406 100644
--- a/qubes/storage/file.py
+++ b/qubes/storage/file.py
@@ -163,6 +163,12 @@ class FilePool(qubes.storage.Pool):
         statvfs = os.statvfs(self.dir_path)
         return statvfs.f_frsize * (statvfs.f_blocks - statvfs.f_bfree)
 
+    def included_in(self, app):
+        ''' Check if there is pool containing this one - either as a
+        filesystem or its LVM volume'''
+        return qubes.storage.search_pool_containing_dir(
+            [pool for pool in app.pools.values() if pool is not self],
+            self.dir_path)
 
 class FileVolume(qubes.storage.Volume):
     ''' Parent class for the xen volumes implementation which expects a
diff --git a/qubes/storage/kernels.py b/qubes/storage/kernels.py
index e60ac70e..448057b1 100644
--- a/qubes/storage/kernels.py
+++ b/qubes/storage/kernels.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 import os
 
 import qubes.exc
+import qubes.storage
 from qubes.storage import Pool, StoragePoolException, Volume
 
 
@@ -202,6 +203,12 @@ class LinuxKernel(Pool):
             raise qubes.exc.QubesValueError(
                 'LinuxModules supports only revisions_to_keep=0')
 
+    def included_in(self, app):
+        ''' Check if there is pool containing /var/lib/qubes/vm-kernels '''
+        return qubes.storage.search_pool_containing_dir(
+            [pool for pool in app.pools.values() if pool is not self],
+            self.dir_path)
+
     @property
     def volumes(self):
         ''' Return all known kernel volumes '''
diff --git a/qubes/storage/reflink.py b/qubes/storage/reflink.py
index 7cb9ca10..a11e6d3a 100644
--- a/qubes/storage/reflink.py
+++ b/qubes/storage/reflink.py
@@ -108,6 +108,12 @@ class ReflinkPool(qubes.storage.Pool):
         statvfs = os.statvfs(self.dir_path)
         return statvfs.f_frsize * (statvfs.f_blocks - statvfs.f_bfree)
 
+    def included_in(self, app):
+        ''' Check if there is pool containing this one - either as a
+        filesystem or its LVM volume'''
+        return qubes.storage.search_pool_containing_dir(
+            [pool for pool in app.pools.values() if pool is not self],
+            self.dir_path)
 
 class ReflinkVolume(qubes.storage.Volume):
     def create(self):