diff --git a/proxstar/user.py b/proxstar/user.py
index 5c0d6f1..785c75e 100644
--- a/proxstar/user.py
+++ b/proxstar/user.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from proxstar.vm import VM
 from proxstar.util import *
 from proxstar.proxmox import *
 from rq.registry import StartedJobRegistry
+from proxmoxer.core import ResourceException
 
 
 class User(object):
@@ -17,14 +18,18 @@ class User(object):
     @lazy_property
     def vms(self):
         proxmox = connect_proxmox()
-        pools = get_pools(proxmox, db)
-        if self.name not in pools:
+        try:
+            # try to get the users vms from their pool
+            vms = proxmox.pools(self.name).get()['members']
+        except ResourceException:
+            # they likely don't have a pool yet, try to create it
             if is_user(self.name) and not is_rtp(self.name):
                 proxmox.pools.post(
                     poolid=self.name, comment='Managed by Proxstar')
+                # if created, their pool is empty so return empty array
+                return []
             else:
                 return []
-        vms = proxmox.pools(self.name).get()['members']
         for vm in vms:
             if 'name' not in vm:
                 vms.remove(vm)