diff --git a/lib/vmpooler/providers/base.rb b/lib/vmpooler/providers/base.rb
index 579124b..23b0bfb 100644
--- a/lib/vmpooler/providers/base.rb
+++ b/lib/vmpooler/providers/base.rb
@@ -18,7 +18,15 @@ module Vmpooler
           @metrics = metrics
           @provider_name = name
 
+          # Ensure that there is not a nil provider configuration
+          @config[:providers] = {} if @config[:providers].nil?
+          @config[:providers][@provider_name] = {} if provider_config.nil?
+
+          # Ensure that there is not a nil pool configuration
+          @config[:pools] = {} if @config[:pools].nil?
+
           @provider_options = options
+          logger.log('s', "[!] Creating provider '#{name}'")
         end
 
         # Helper Methods
@@ -41,7 +49,7 @@ module Vmpooler
         def provider_config
           @config[:providers].each do |provider|
             # Convert the symbol from the config into a string for comparison
-            return provider[1] if provider[0].to_s == @provider_name
+            return (provider[1].nil? ? {} : provider[1]) if provider[0].to_s == @provider_name
           end
 
           nil
@@ -60,6 +68,16 @@ module Vmpooler
           @provider_name
         end
 
+        # returns
+        #   Array[String] : Array of pool names this provider services
+        def provided_pools
+          list = []
+          @config[:pools].each do |pool|
+            list << pool['name'] if pool['provider'] == name
+          end
+          list
+        end
+
         # Pool Manager Methods
 
         # inputs
@@ -146,8 +164,8 @@ module Vmpooler
         #   [String] new_snapshot_name : Name of the new snapshot to create
         # returns
         #   [Boolean] : true if success, false if snapshot could not be created
+        #   Raises RuntimeError if the Pool does not exist
         #   Raises RuntimeError if the VM does not exist
-        #   Raises RuntimeError if the snapshot already exists
         def create_snapshot(_pool_name, _vm_name, _new_snapshot_name)
           raise("#{self.class.name} does not implement create_snapshot")
         end
@@ -158,8 +176,9 @@ module Vmpooler
         #   [String] snapshot_name : Name of the snapshot to restore to
         # returns
         #   [Boolean] : true if success, false if snapshot could not be revertted
+        #   Raises RuntimeError if the Pool does not exist
         #   Raises RuntimeError if the VM does not exist
-        #   Raises RuntimeError if the snapshot already exists
+        #   Raises RuntimeError if the snapshot does not exist
         def revert_snapshot(_pool_name, _vm_name, _snapshot_name)
           raise("#{self.class.name} does not implement revert_snapshot")
         end
diff --git a/spec/unit/providers/base_spec.rb b/spec/unit/providers/base_spec.rb
index b9b5155..5e7feb6 100644
--- a/spec/unit/providers/base_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/providers/base_spec.rb
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ EOT
       )
     }
 
-    context 'Given a misconfigured provider name' do
+    context 'Given a provider with no configuration' do
     let(:config) { YAML.load(<<-EOT
 ---
 :providers:
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ EOT
 EOT
       )
     }
-      it 'should return nil' do
-        expect(subject.provider_config).to be_nil
+      it 'should return empty hash' do
+        expect(subject.provider_config).to eq({})
       end
     end
 
@@ -120,6 +120,26 @@ EOT
     end
   end
 
+  describe '#provided_pools' do
+    let(:config) { YAML.load(<<-EOT
+---
+:pools:
+  - name: 'pool1'
+    provider: 'base'
+  - name: 'pool2'
+    provider: 'base'
+  - name: 'otherpool'
+    provider: 'other provider'
+  - name: 'no name'
+EOT
+      )
+    }
+
+    it "should return pools serviced by this provider" do
+      expect(subject.provided_pools).to eq(['pool1','pool2'])
+    end
+  end
+
   describe '#vms_in_pool' do
     it 'should raise error' do
       expect{subject.vms_in_pool('pool')}.to raise_error(/does not implement vms_in_pool/)