diff --git a/src/api2/config/datastore.rs b/src/api2/config/datastore.rs
index 9f2dac4b..121222c4 100644
--- a/src/api2/config/datastore.rs
+++ b/src/api2/config/datastore.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ use crate::api2::admin::{
     datastore::do_mount_device, prune::list_prune_jobs, sync::list_config_sync_jobs,
     verify::list_verification_jobs,
 };
-use crate::api2::config::prune::{delete_prune_job, do_create_prune_job};
+use crate::api2::config::prune::{delete_prune_job, do_create_prune_job, has_prune_job};
 use crate::api2::config::sync::delete_sync_job;
 use crate::api2::config::tape_backup_job::{delete_tape_backup_job, list_tape_backup_jobs};
 use crate::api2::config::verify::delete_verification_job;
@@ -204,23 +204,26 @@ pub fn create_datastore(
     let auth_id: Authid = rpcenv.get_auth_id().unwrap().parse()?;
     let to_stdout = rpcenv.env_type() == RpcEnvironmentType::CLI;
 
-    let prune_job_config = config.prune_schedule.as_ref().map(|schedule| {
-        let mut id = format!("default-{}-{}", config.name, Uuid::generate());
-        id.truncate(32);
+    let mut prune_job_config = None;
+    if config.keep.keeps_something() || !has_prune_job(&config.name)? {
+        prune_job_config = config.prune_schedule.as_ref().map(|schedule| {
+            let mut id = format!("default-{}-{}", config.name, Uuid::generate());
+            id.truncate(32);
 
-        PruneJobConfig {
-            id,
-            store: config.name.clone(),
-            comment: None,
-            disable: false,
-            schedule: schedule.clone(),
-            options: PruneJobOptions {
-                keep: config.keep.clone(),
-                max_depth: None,
-                ns: None,
-            },
-        }
-    });
+            PruneJobConfig {
+                id,
+                store: config.name.clone(),
+                comment: None,
+                disable: false,
+                schedule: schedule.clone(),
+                options: PruneJobOptions {
+                    keep: config.keep.clone(),
+                    max_depth: None,
+                    ns: None,
+                },
+            }
+        });
+    }
 
     // clearing prune settings in the datastore config, as they are now handled by prune jobs
     let config = DataStoreConfig {
diff --git a/src/api2/config/prune.rs b/src/api2/config/prune.rs
index ce7b8ce5..b433c248 100644
--- a/src/api2/config/prune.rs
+++ b/src/api2/config/prune.rs
@@ -77,6 +77,17 @@ pub fn do_create_prune_job(config: PruneJobConfig) -> Result<(), Error> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
+pub fn has_prune_job(datastore: &str) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+    let (section_config, _digest) = prune::config()?;
+    for (_, (_, job_config)) in section_config.sections {
+        let job_config: PruneJobConfig = serde_json::from_value(job_config)?;
+        if job_config.store == datastore {
+            return Ok(true);
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(false)
+}
+
 #[api(
     protected: true,
     input: {