diff --git a/ci/common/vbmc_setup.yaml b/ci/common/vbmc_setup.yaml
index e1989aec0d..9808f84717 100644
--- a/ci/common/vbmc_setup.yaml
+++ b/ci/common/vbmc_setup.yaml
@@ -44,6 +44,22 @@ resources:
 
         docker restart neutron_api
 
+        LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL=${LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL:-"default"}
+        LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL_PATH=${LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL_PATH:-/var/lib/libvirt/images}
+
+        mkdir -p $LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL_PATH
+
+        if ! virsh pool-list --all | grep -q $LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL; then
+            virsh pool-define-as --name $LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL dir --target $LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL_PATH
+            virsh pool-autostart $LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL
+            virsh pool-start $LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL
+        fi
+
+        pool_state=$(virsh pool-info $LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL | grep State | awk '{ print $2 }')
+        if [ "$pool_state" != "running" ] ; then
+            virsh pool-start $LIBVIRT_STORAGE_POOL
+        fi
+
         # nohup needed as vbmc seems to keep stdin open
         nohup /tmp/ironic/devstack/tools/ironic/scripts/create-node.sh -n node1 -c 1 -m 3072 -d 10 -b br-ex -p 1161 -M 1350 -f qcow2 -a x86_64 -E qemu -e /usr/bin/qemu-system-x86_64 -l /var/log/bmlogs -A 66:0d:1d:d8:0b:11 > ~zuul/create-node-1.log 2>&1 < /dev/null
         nohup /tmp/ironic/devstack/tools/ironic/scripts/create-node.sh -n node2 -c 1 -m 3072 -d 10 -b br-ex -p 1162 -M 1350 -f qcow2 -a x86_64 -E qemu -e /usr/bin/qemu-system-x86_64 -l /var/log/bmlogs -A 66:0d:1d:d8:0b:22 > ~zuul/create-node-2.log 2>&1 < /dev/null &
diff --git a/ci/environments/scenario012-standalone.yaml b/ci/environments/scenario012-standalone.yaml
index 74f5253eb4..6c6217a9f2 100644
--- a/ci/environments/scenario012-standalone.yaml
+++ b/ci/environments/scenario012-standalone.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# touching file so CI runs scenario012
 resource_registry:
   OS::TripleO::Controller::Net::SoftwareConfig: ../common/net-config-multinode.yaml
   OS::TripleO::Compute::Net::SoftwareConfig: ../common/net-config-multinode.yaml