diff --git a/functions.sh b/functions.sh
index f67bbb0..4766614 100644
--- a/functions.sh
+++ b/functions.sh
@@ -141,3 +141,53 @@ ensure_container_not_running () {
 	return 0
     fi
 }
+
+# check: pod $1 exists?
+check_pod_exists () {
+    podman pod exists ${1}
+}
+
+# ok if pod exists
+ensure_pod_exists () {
+    if ! check_pod_exists ${1}; then
+	echo "ERROR : pod ${1} does not exists"
+	exit 1
+    else
+	return 0
+    fi
+}
+
+# ok if pod does not exists
+ensure_pod_not_exists () {
+    if check_pod_exists ${1}; then
+	echo "ERROR : pod ${1} exists"
+	exit 1
+    else
+	return 0
+    fi
+}
+
+# check: pod ${1} is running?
+check_pod_running () {
+  [[ "podman pod inspect -f '{{.State}}' ${1}" == "Running" ]]
+}
+
+# ok if pod is running
+ensure_pod_running () {
+    if ! check_pod_running ${1}; then
+	echo "ERROR : pod ${1} is not running"
+	exit 1
+    else
+	return 0
+    fi
+}
+
+# ok if pod is not running
+ensure_pod_not_running () {
+    if check_pod_running ${1}; then
+	echo "ERROR : pod ${1} is running"
+	exit 1
+    else
+	return 0
+    fi
+}