diff --git a/src/apps.js b/src/apps.js
index fee042274..071d7fd81 100644
--- a/src/apps.js
+++ b/src/apps.js
@@ -380,6 +380,10 @@ function getDuplicateErrorDetails(errorMessage, location, domainObject, portBind
         if (portBindings[portName] === parseInt(match[1])) return new AppsError(AppsError.ALREADY_EXISTS, `Port ${match[1]} is reserved`, { portName });
     }
 
+    if (match[2] === 'dataDir') {
+        return new AppsError(AppsError.BAD_FIELD, `Data directory ${match[1]} is in use`, { field: 'dataDir' });
+    }
+
     return new AppsError(AppsError.ALREADY_EXISTS, `${match[2]} '${match[1]}' is in use`);
 }