diff --git a/common-functions b/common-functions
index 513e741..a53bc4c 100755
--- a/common-functions
+++ b/common-functions
@@ -411,6 +411,14 @@ service_enter() {
   docker exec $DOKKU_RUN_OPTS $ID $EXEC_CMD "${@:-/bin/bash}"
 }
 
+service_exists() {
+  declare desc="returns 0 or 1 depending on whether service exists or not"
+  declare SERVICE="$1"
+  [[ -z "$SERVICE" ]] && return 1
+  [[ -d "$PLUGIN_DATA_ROOT/$SERVICE" ]] && return 0
+  return 1
+}
+
 service_exposed_ports() {
   declare desc="list exposed ports for a service"
   declare SERVICE="$1"
diff --git a/subcommands/clone b/subcommands/clone
index 3c5ff0b..a7e2f64 100755
--- a/subcommands/clone
+++ b/subcommands/clone
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ service-clone-cmd() {
   [[ -z "$SERVICE" ]] && dokku_log_fail "Please specify a valid name for the service"
   [[ -z "$NEW_SERVICE" ]] && dokku_log_fail "Please specify a name for the new service"
   verify_service_name "$SERVICE"
+  if service_exists "$NEW_SERVICE"; then
+    dokku_log_fail "Invalid service name $NEW_SERVICE. Verify the service name is not already in use."
+  fi
 
   local SERVICE_ROOT="$PLUGIN_DATA_ROOT/$SERVICE"
   local ID="$(cat "$SERVICE_ROOT/ID")"