diff --git a/lib/vmpooler/pool_manager.rb b/lib/vmpooler/pool_manager.rb
index 6014fb6..52f6d61 100644
--- a/lib/vmpooler/pool_manager.rb
+++ b/lib/vmpooler/pool_manager.rb
@@ -189,105 +189,113 @@ module Vmpooler
     end
 
     # Clone a VM
-    def clone_vm(template, folder, datastore, target, vsphere)
+    def clone_vm(pool, vsphere)
       Thread.new do
         begin
-          vm = {}
-
-          if template =~ /\//
-            templatefolders = template.split('/')
-            vm['template'] = templatefolders.pop
-          end
-
-          if templatefolders
-            vm[vm['template']] = vsphere.find_folder(templatefolders.join('/')).find(vm['template'])
-          else
-            fail 'Please provide a full path to the template'
-          end
-
-          if vm['template'].length == 0
-            fail "Unable to find template '#{vm['template']}'!"
-          end
-
-          # Generate a randomized hostname
-          o = [('a'..'z'), ('0'..'9')].map(&:to_a).flatten
-          vm['hostname'] = $config[:config]['prefix'] + o[rand(25)] + (0...14).map { o[rand(o.length)] }.join
-
-          # Add VM to Redis inventory ('pending' pool)
-          $redis.sadd('vmpooler__pending__' + vm['template'], vm['hostname'])
-          $redis.hset('vmpooler__vm__' + vm['hostname'], 'clone', Time.now)
-          $redis.hset('vmpooler__vm__' + vm['hostname'], 'template', vm['template'])
-
-          # Annotate with creation time, origin template, etc.
-          # Add extraconfig options that can be queried by vmtools
-          configSpec = RbVmomi::VIM.VirtualMachineConfigSpec(
-            annotation: JSON.pretty_generate(
-                name: vm['hostname'],
-                created_by: $config[:vsphere]['username'],
-                base_template: vm['template'],
-                creation_timestamp: Time.now.utc
-            ),
-            extraConfig: [
-                { key: 'guestinfo.hostname',
-                  value: vm['hostname']
-                }
-            ]
-          )
-
-          # Choose a clone target
-          if target
-            $clone_target = vsphere.find_least_used_host(target)
-          elsif $config[:config]['clone_target']
-            $clone_target = vsphere.find_least_used_host($config[:config]['clone_target'])
-          end
-
-          # Put the VM in the specified folder and resource pool
-          relocateSpec = RbVmomi::VIM.VirtualMachineRelocateSpec(
-            datastore: vsphere.find_datastore(datastore),
-            host: $clone_target,
-            diskMoveType: :moveChildMostDiskBacking
-          )
-
-          # Create a clone spec
-          spec = RbVmomi::VIM.VirtualMachineCloneSpec(
-            location: relocateSpec,
-            config: configSpec,
-            powerOn: true,
-            template: false
-          )
-
-          # Clone the VM
-          $logger.log('d', "[ ] [#{vm['template']}] '#{vm['hostname']}' is being cloned from '#{vm['template']}'")
-
-          begin
-            start = Time.now
-            vm[vm['template']].CloneVM_Task(
-              folder: vsphere.find_folder(folder),
-              name: vm['hostname'],
-              spec: spec
-            ).wait_for_completion
-            finish = '%.2f' % (Time.now - start)
-
-            $redis.hset('vmpooler__clone__' + Date.today.to_s, vm['template'] + ':' + vm['hostname'], finish)
-            $redis.hset('vmpooler__vm__' + vm['hostname'], 'clone_time', finish)
-
-            $logger.log('s', "[+] [#{vm['template']}] '#{vm['hostname']}' cloned from '#{vm['template']}' in #{finish} seconds")
-          rescue => err
-            $logger.log('s', "[!] [#{vm['template']}] '#{vm['hostname']}' clone failed with an error: #{err}")
-            $redis.srem('vmpooler__pending__' + vm['template'], vm['hostname'])
-            raise
-          end
-
-          $redis.decr('vmpooler__tasks__clone')
-
-          $metrics.timing("clone.#{vm['template']}", finish)
+          _clone_vm(pool, vsphere)
         rescue => err
-          $logger.log('s', "[!] [#{vm['template']}] '#{vm['hostname']}' failed while preparing to clone with an error: #{err}")
+          $logger.log('s', "[!] [#{pool['name']}] failed while cloning VM with an error: #{err}")
           raise
         end
       end
     end
 
+    def _clone_vm(pool, vsphere)
+      template = pool['template']
+      folder = pool['folder']
+      datastore = pool['datastore']
+      target = pool['clone_target']
+      vm = {}
+
+      if template =~ /\//
+        templatefolders = template.split('/')
+        vm['template'] = templatefolders.pop
+      end
+
+      if templatefolders
+        vm[vm['template']] = vsphere.find_folder(templatefolders.join('/')).find(vm['template'])
+      else
+        fail 'Please provide a full path to the template'
+      end
+
+      if vm['template'].length == 0
+        fail "Unable to find template '#{vm['template']}'!"
+      end
+
+      # Generate a randomized hostname
+      o = [('a'..'z'), ('0'..'9')].map(&:to_a).flatten
+      vm['hostname'] = $config[:config]['prefix'] + o[rand(25)] + (0...14).map { o[rand(o.length)] }.join
+
+      # Add VM to Redis inventory ('pending' pool)
+      $redis.sadd('vmpooler__pending__' + vm['template'], vm['hostname'])
+      $redis.hset('vmpooler__vm__' + vm['hostname'], 'clone', Time.now)
+      $redis.hset('vmpooler__vm__' + vm['hostname'], 'template', vm['template'])
+
+      # Annotate with creation time, origin template, etc.
+      # Add extraconfig options that can be queried by vmtools
+      configSpec = RbVmomi::VIM.VirtualMachineConfigSpec(
+        annotation: JSON.pretty_generate(
+            name: vm['hostname'],
+            created_by: $config[:vsphere]['username'],
+            base_template: vm['template'],
+            creation_timestamp: Time.now.utc
+        ),
+        extraConfig: [
+            { key: 'guestinfo.hostname',
+              value: vm['hostname']
+            }
+        ]
+      )
+
+      # Choose a clone target
+      if target
+        $clone_target = vsphere.find_least_used_host(target)
+      elsif $config[:config]['clone_target']
+        $clone_target = vsphere.find_least_used_host($config[:config]['clone_target'])
+      end
+
+      # Put the VM in the specified folder and resource pool
+      relocateSpec = RbVmomi::VIM.VirtualMachineRelocateSpec(
+        datastore: vsphere.find_datastore(datastore),
+        host: $clone_target,
+        diskMoveType: :moveChildMostDiskBacking
+      )
+
+      # Create a clone spec
+      spec = RbVmomi::VIM.VirtualMachineCloneSpec(
+        location: relocateSpec,
+        config: configSpec,
+        powerOn: true,
+        template: false
+      )
+
+      # Clone the VM
+      $logger.log('d', "[ ] [#{vm['template']}] '#{vm['hostname']}' is being cloned from '#{vm['template']}'")
+
+      begin
+        start = Time.now
+        vm[vm['template']].CloneVM_Task(
+          folder: vsphere.find_folder(folder),
+          name: vm['hostname'],
+          spec: spec
+        ).wait_for_completion
+        finish = '%.2f' % (Time.now - start)
+
+        $redis.hset('vmpooler__clone__' + Date.today.to_s, vm['template'] + ':' + vm['hostname'], finish)
+        $redis.hset('vmpooler__vm__' + vm['hostname'], 'clone_time', finish)
+
+        $logger.log('s', "[+] [#{vm['template']}] '#{vm['hostname']}' cloned from '#{vm['template']}' in #{finish} seconds")
+      rescue => err
+        $logger.log('s', "[!] [#{vm['template']}] '#{vm['hostname']}' clone failed with an error: #{err}")
+        $redis.srem('vmpooler__pending__' + vm['template'], vm['hostname'])
+        raise
+      end
+
+      $redis.decr('vmpooler__tasks__clone')
+
+      $metrics.timing("clone.#{vm['template']}", finish)
+    end
+
     # Destroy a VM
     def destroy_vm(vm, pool, vsphere)
       Thread.new do
@@ -714,14 +722,7 @@ module Vmpooler
           if $redis.get('vmpooler__tasks__clone').to_i < $config[:config]['task_limit'].to_i
             begin
               $redis.incr('vmpooler__tasks__clone')
-
-              clone_vm(
-                pool['template'],
-                pool['folder'],
-                pool['datastore'],
-                pool['clone_target'],
-                vsphere
-              )
+              clone_vm(pool,vsphere)
             rescue => err
               $logger.log('s', "[!] [#{pool['name']}] clone failed during check_pool with an error: #{err}")
               $redis.decr('vmpooler__tasks__clone')
diff --git a/spec/unit/pool_manager_spec.rb b/spec/unit/pool_manager_spec.rb
index f654ecb..0c2a619 100644
--- a/spec/unit/pool_manager_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/pool_manager_spec.rb
@@ -549,13 +549,7 @@ EOT
   end
 
   describe '#clone_vm' do
-    before do
-      expect(subject).not_to be_nil
-    end
-
-    before(:each) do
-      expect(Thread).to receive(:new).and_yield
-    end
+    let(:vsphere) { double('vsphere') }
 
     let(:config) {
       YAML.load(<<-EOT
@@ -564,9 +558,41 @@ EOT
   prefix: "prefix"
 :vsphere:
   username: "vcenter_user"
+:pools:
+  - name: #{pool}
 EOT
       )
     }
+    let (:pool_object) { config[:pools][0] }
+
+    before do
+      expect(subject).not_to be_nil
+    end
+
+    it 'calls _clone_vm' do
+      expect(Thread).to receive(:new).and_yield
+      expect(subject).to receive(:_clone_vm).with(pool_object,vsphere)
+
+      subject.clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
+    end
+
+    it 'logs a message if an error is raised' do
+      expect(Thread).to receive(:new).and_yield
+      expect(logger).to receive(:log)
+      expect(subject).to receive(:_clone_vm).with(pool_object,vsphere).and_raise('an_error')
+
+      expect{subject.clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)}.to raise_error(/an_error/)
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#_clone_vm' do
+    before do
+      expect(subject).not_to be_nil
+    end
+
+    before(:each) do
+      #expect(Thread).to receive(:new).and_yield
+    end
 
     let (:folder) { 'vmfolder' }
     let (:folder_object) { double('folder_object') }
@@ -574,34 +600,47 @@ EOT
     let (:template) { "template/#{template_name}" }
     let (:datastore) { 'datastore' }
     let (:target) { 'clone_target' }
+
+    let(:config) {
+      YAML.load(<<-EOT
+---
+:config:
+  prefix: "prefix"
+:vsphere:
+  username: "vcenter_user"
+:pools:
+  - name: #{pool}
+    template: '#{template}'
+    folder: '#{folder}'
+    datastore: '#{datastore}'
+    clone_target: '#{target}'
+EOT
+      )
+    }
+
     let (:vsphere) { double('vsphere') }
     let (:template_folder_object) { double('template_folder_object') }
     let (:template_vm_object) { double('template_vm_object') }
     let (:clone_task) { double('clone_task') }
+    let (:pool_object) { config[:pools][0] }
 
     context 'no template specified' do
-      it 'should raise an error' do
-  
-        expect{subject.clone_vm(nil,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)}.to raise_error(/Please provide a full path to the template/)
+      before(:each) do
+        pool_object['template'] = nil
       end
 
-      it 'should log a message' do
-        expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('s', "[!] [] '' failed while preparing to clone with an error: Please provide a full path to the template")
-
-        expect{subject.clone_vm(nil,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)}.to raise_error(RuntimeError)
+      it 'should raise an error' do
+        expect{subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)}.to raise_error(/Please provide a full path to the template/)
       end
     end
 
     context 'a template with no forward slash in the string' do
-      it 'should raise an error' do
-  
-        expect{subject.clone_vm('vm1',folder,datastore,target,vsphere)}.to raise_error(/Please provide a full path to the template/)
+      before(:each) do
+        pool_object['template'] = template_name
       end
 
-      it 'should log a message' do
-        expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('s', "[!] [] '' failed while preparing to clone with an error: Please provide a full path to the template")
-
-        expect{subject.clone_vm('vm1',folder,datastore,target,vsphere)}.to raise_error(RuntimeError)
+      it 'should raise an error' do
+        expect{subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)}.to raise_error(/Please provide a full path to the template/)
       end
     end
 
@@ -615,9 +654,9 @@ EOT
     context "Template name does not match pool name (Implementation Bug)" do
       let (:template_name) { 'template_vm' }
 
-      # The implementaion of clone_vm incorrectly uses the VM Template name instead of the pool name.  The VM Template represents the
+      # The implementaion of _clone_vm incorrectly uses the VM Template name instead of the pool name.  The VM Template represents the
       # name of the VM to clone in vSphere whereas pool is the name of the pool in Pooler.  The tests below document the behaviour of
-      # clone_vm if the Template and Pool name differ.  It is expected that these test will fail once this bug is removed.
+      # _clone_vm if the Template and Pool name differ.  It is expected that these test will fail once this bug is removed.
 
       context 'a valid template' do
         before(:each) do
@@ -639,7 +678,7 @@ EOT
             expect(logger).to receive(:log).at_least(:once)
             expect(redis.scard("vmpooler__pending__#{pool}")).to eq(0)
 
-            subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)
+            subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
 
             expect(redis.scard("vmpooler__pending__#{template_name}")).to eq(1)
             # Get the new VM Name from the pending pool queue as it should be the only entry
@@ -654,14 +693,14 @@ EOT
             expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('d',/\[ \] \[#{template_name}\] '(.+)' is being cloned from '#{template_name}'/)
             allow(logger).to receive(:log)
 
-            subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)
+            subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
           end
 
           it 'should log a message that it completed being cloned' do
             expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('s',/\[\+\] \[#{template_name}\] '(.+)' cloned from '#{template_name}' in [0-9.]+ seconds/)
             allow(logger).to receive(:log)
 
-            subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)
+            subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
           end
         end
 
@@ -683,7 +722,7 @@ EOT
 
           it 'should raise an error within the Thread' do
             expect(logger).to receive(:log).at_least(:once)
-            expect{subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)}.to raise_error(/SomeError/)
+            expect{subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)}.to raise_error(/SomeError/)
           end
 
           it 'should log a message that is being cloned from a template' do
@@ -692,19 +731,18 @@ EOT
 
             # Swallow the error
             begin
-              subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)
+              subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
             rescue
             end
           end
 
           it 'should log messages that the clone failed' do
             expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('s', /\[!\] \[#{template_name}\] '(.+)' clone failed with an error: SomeError/)
-            expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('s', /\[!\] \[#{template_name}\] '(.+)' failed while preparing to clone with an error: SomeError/)
             allow(logger).to receive(:log)
 
             # Swallow the error
             begin
-              subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)
+              subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
             rescue
             end
           end
@@ -732,7 +770,7 @@ EOT
           expect(logger).to receive(:log).at_least(:once)
           expect(redis.scard("vmpooler__pending__#{pool}")).to eq(0)
 
-          subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)
+          subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
 
           expect(redis.scard("vmpooler__pending__#{pool}")).to eq(1)
           # Get the new VM Name from the pending pool queue as it should be the only entry
@@ -747,7 +785,7 @@ EOT
           redis.incr('vmpooler__tasks__clone')
           redis.incr('vmpooler__tasks__clone')
           expect(redis.get('vmpooler__tasks__clone')).to eq('2')
-          subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)
+          subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
           expect(redis.get('vmpooler__tasks__clone')).to eq('1')
         end
 
@@ -755,14 +793,14 @@ EOT
           expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('d',/\[ \] \[#{pool}\] '(.+)' is being cloned from '#{template_name}'/)
           allow(logger).to receive(:log)
 
-          subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)
+          subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
         end
 
         it 'should log a message that it completed being cloned' do
           expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('s',/\[\+\] \[#{pool}\] '(.+)' cloned from '#{template_name}' in [0-9.]+ seconds/)
           allow(logger).to receive(:log)
 
-          subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)
+          subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
         end
       end
 
@@ -784,7 +822,7 @@ EOT
 
         it 'should raise an error within the Thread' do
           expect(logger).to receive(:log).at_least(:once)
-          expect{subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)}.to raise_error(/SomeError/)
+          expect{subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)}.to raise_error(/SomeError/)
         end
 
         it 'should log a message that is being cloned from a template' do
@@ -793,19 +831,18 @@ EOT
 
           # Swallow the error
           begin
-            subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)
+            subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
           rescue
           end
         end
 
         it 'should log messages that the clone failed' do
           expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('s', /\[!\] \[#{pool}\] '(.+)' clone failed with an error: SomeError/)
-          expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('s', /\[!\] \[#{pool}\] '(.+)' failed while preparing to clone with an error: SomeError/)
           allow(logger).to receive(:log)
 
           # Swallow the error
           begin
-            subject.clone_vm(template,folder,datastore,target,vsphere)
+            subject._clone_vm(pool_object,vsphere)
           rescue
           end
         end