diff --git a/src/conf/storage_conf.c b/src/conf/storage_conf.c
index e4232e9af9..eaa932529d 100644
--- a/src/conf/storage_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/storage_conf.c
@@ -2172,6 +2172,9 @@ static bool
 virStoragePoolMatch(virStoragePoolObjPtr poolobj,
                     unsigned int flags)
 {
+    if (poolobj->internal)
+        return false;
+
     /* filter by active state */
     if (MATCH(VIR_CONNECT_LIST_STORAGE_POOLS_FILTERS_ACTIVE) &&
         !((MATCH(VIR_CONNECT_LIST_STORAGE_POOLS_ACTIVE) &&
diff --git a/src/conf/storage_conf.h b/src/conf/storage_conf.h
index 485bdba137..62ac749743 100644
--- a/src/conf/storage_conf.h
+++ b/src/conf/storage_conf.h
@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@ struct _virStoragePoolObj {
     int active;
     int autostart;
     unsigned int asyncjobs;
+    bool internal;
 
     virStoragePoolDefPtr def;
     virStoragePoolDefPtr newDef;
diff --git a/src/storage/storage_driver.c b/src/storage/storage_driver.c
index 85fc0f2522..bb13e8e954 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_driver.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_driver.c
@@ -377,7 +377,8 @@ storageConnectNumOfStoragePools(virConnectPtr conn) {
         virStoragePoolObjPtr obj = driver->pools.objs[i];
         virStoragePoolObjLock(obj);
         if (virConnectNumOfStoragePoolsCheckACL(conn, obj->def) &&
-            virStoragePoolObjIsActive(obj))
+            virStoragePoolObjIsActive(obj) &&
+            !obj->internal)
             nactive++;
         virStoragePoolObjUnlock(obj);
     }
@@ -402,7 +403,8 @@ storageConnectListStoragePools(virConnectPtr conn,
         virStoragePoolObjPtr obj = driver->pools.objs[i];
         virStoragePoolObjLock(obj);
         if (virConnectListStoragePoolsCheckACL(conn, obj->def) &&
-            virStoragePoolObjIsActive(obj)) {
+            virStoragePoolObjIsActive(obj) &&
+            !obj->internal) {
             if (VIR_STRDUP(names[got], obj->def->name) < 0) {
                 virStoragePoolObjUnlock(obj);
                 goto cleanup;
@@ -436,7 +438,8 @@ storageConnectNumOfDefinedStoragePools(virConnectPtr conn) {
         virStoragePoolObjPtr obj = driver->pools.objs[i];
         virStoragePoolObjLock(obj);
         if (virConnectNumOfDefinedStoragePoolsCheckACL(conn, obj->def) &&
-            !virStoragePoolObjIsActive(obj))
+            !virStoragePoolObjIsActive(obj) &&
+            !obj->internal)
             nactive++;
         virStoragePoolObjUnlock(obj);
     }
@@ -461,7 +464,8 @@ storageConnectListDefinedStoragePools(virConnectPtr conn,
         virStoragePoolObjPtr obj = driver->pools.objs[i];
         virStoragePoolObjLock(obj);
         if (virConnectListDefinedStoragePoolsCheckACL(conn, obj->def) &&
-            !virStoragePoolObjIsActive(obj)) {
+            !virStoragePoolObjIsActive(obj) &&
+            !obj->internal) {
             if (VIR_STRDUP(names[got], obj->def->name) < 0) {
                 virStoragePoolObjUnlock(obj);
                 goto cleanup;