diff --git a/virtinst/devices/disk.py b/virtinst/devices/disk.py
index 26b4a489..38f3f3a8 100644
--- a/virtinst/devices/disk.py
+++ b/virtinst/devices/disk.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 # See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
 
 import logging
-import os
 
 from .. import diskbackend
 from .. import util
@@ -149,22 +148,7 @@ class DeviceDisk(Device):
          may have disappeared behind our back, but that shouldn't have bad
          effects in practice.)
         """
-        if path is None:
-            return False
-
-        try:
-            (vol, pool) = diskbackend.check_if_path_managed(conn, path)
-            ignore = pool
-
-            if vol:
-                return True
-
-            if not conn.is_remote():
-                return os.path.exists(path)
-        except Exception:
-            pass
-
-        return False
+        return diskbackend.path_definitely_exists(conn, path)
 
     @staticmethod
     def check_path_search(conn, path):
diff --git a/virtinst/diskbackend.py b/virtinst/diskbackend.py
index d81c7a80..f1ea0c0b 100644
--- a/virtinst/diskbackend.py
+++ b/virtinst/diskbackend.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def _stat_disk(path):
     return True, 0
 
 
-def check_if_path_managed(conn, path):
+def _check_if_path_managed(conn, path):
     """
     Try to lookup storage objects for the passed path.
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ def manage_path(conn, path):
 
     if not path_is_url(path):
         path = os.path.abspath(path)
-    vol, pool = check_if_path_managed(conn, path)
+    vol, pool = _check_if_path_managed(conn, path)
     if vol or pool or not _can_auto_manage(path):
         return vol, pool
 
@@ -223,6 +223,28 @@ def _get_dev_type(path, vol_xml, vol_object, pool_xml, remote):
     return "file"
 
 
+def path_definitely_exists(conn, path):
+    """
+    Return True if the path certainly exists, False if we are unsure.
+    See DeviceDisk entry point for more details
+    """
+    if path is None:
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        (vol, pool) = _check_if_path_managed(conn, path)
+        ignore = pool
+        if vol:
+            return True
+
+        if not conn.is_remote():
+            return os.path.exists(path)
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+
+    return False
+
+
 #########################
 # ACL/path perm helpers #
 #########################