diff --git a/usr/local/etc/bastille/bastille.conf.sample b/usr/local/etc/bastille/bastille.conf.sample
index 9c55649d..2371f5bd 100644
--- a/usr/local/etc/bastille/bastille.conf.sample
+++ b/usr/local/etc/bastille/bastille.conf.sample
@@ -3,16 +3,16 @@
 #####################
 
 ## default paths
-bastille_prefix=/usr/local/bastille                                   ## default: "/usr/local/bastille"
-bastille_backupsdir=${bastille_prefix}/backups                        ## default: ${bastille_prefix}/backups
-bastille_cachedir=${bastille_prefix}/cache                            ## default: ${bastille_prefix}/cache
-bastille_jailsdir=${bastille_prefix}/jails                            ## default: ${bastille_prefix}/jails
-bastille_logsdir=${bastille_prefix}/logs                              ## default: ${bastille_prefix}/logs
-bastille_releasesdir=${bastille_prefix}/releases                      ## default: ${bastille_prefix}/releases
-bastille_templatesdir=${bastille_prefix}/templates                    ## default: ${bastille_prefix}/templates
+bastille_prefix="/usr/local/bastille"                                 ## default: "/usr/local/bastille"
+bastille_backupsdir="${bastille_prefix}/backups"                      ## default: "${bastille_prefix}/backups"
+bastille_cachedir="${bastille_prefix}/cache"                          ## default: "${bastille_prefix}/cache"
+bastille_jailsdir="${bastille_prefix}/jails"                          ## default: "${bastille_prefix}/jails"
+bastille_logsdir="${bastille_prefix}/logs"                            ## default: "${bastille_prefix}/logs"
+bastille_releasesdir="${bastille_prefix}/releases"                    ## default: "${bastille_prefix}/releases"
+bastille_templatesdir="${bastille_prefix}/templates"                  ## default: "${bastille_prefix}/templates"
 
 ## bastille scripts directory (assumed by bastille pkg)
-bastille_sharedir=/usr/local/share/bastille                           ## default: "/usr/local/share/bastille"
+bastille_sharedir="/usr/local/share/bastille"                         ## default: "/usr/local/share/bastille"
 
 ## bootstrap archives (base, lib32, ports, src, test)
 bastille_bootstrap_archives="base"                                    ## default: "base"
diff --git a/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh b/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh
index c38e578e..a9ea9b3d 100644
--- a/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh
+++ b/usr/local/share/bastille/create.sh
@@ -36,13 +36,25 @@ usage() {
     exit 1
 }
 
+error_notify() {
+    # Notify message on error and exit
+    echo -e "$*" >&2
+    exit 1
+}
+
 running_jail() {
     if [ -n "$(jls name | awk "/^${NAME}$/")" ]; then
-        echo -e "${COLOR_RED}A running jail matches name.${COLOR_RESET}"
-        exit 1
+        error_notify "${COLOR_RED}A running jail matches name.${COLOR_RESET}"
     elif [ -d "${bastille_jailsdir}/${NAME}" ]; then
-        echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Jail: ${NAME} already created.${COLOR_RESET}"
-        exit 1
+        error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Jail: ${NAME} already created.${COLOR_RESET}"
+    fi
+}
+
+validate_name() {
+    local NAME_VERIFY=${NAME}
+    local NAME_SANITY=$(echo "${NAME_VERIFY}" | tr -c -d 'a-zA-Z0-9-_')
+    if [ "${NAME_VERIFY}" != "${NAME_SANITY}" ]; then
+        error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Container names may not contain special characters!${COLOR_RESET}"
     fi
 }
 
@@ -72,8 +84,7 @@ validate_ip() {
                 echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}Valid: (${IP}).${COLOR_RESET}"
             fi
         else
-            echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Invalid: (${IP}).${COLOR_RESET}"
-            exit 1
+            error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Invalid: (${IP}).${COLOR_RESET}"
         fi
     fi
 }
@@ -83,15 +94,13 @@ validate_netif() {
     if echo "${LIST_INTERFACES} VNET" | grep -qwo "${INTERFACE}"; then
         echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}Valid: (${INTERFACE}).${COLOR_RESET}"
     else
-        echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Invalid: (${INTERFACE}).${COLOR_RESET}"
-        exit 1
+        error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Invalid: (${INTERFACE}).${COLOR_RESET}"
     fi
 }
 
 validate_netconf() {
     if [ -n "${bastille_network_loopback}" ] && [ -n "${bastille_network_shared}" ]; then
-        echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Invalid network configuration.${COLOR_RESET}"
-        exit 1
+        error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Invalid network configuration.${COLOR_RESET}"
     fi
 }
 
@@ -104,6 +113,17 @@ validate_release() {
     fi
 }
 
+generate_minimal_conf() {
+    cat << EOF > "${bastille_jail_conf}"
+${NAME} {
+  host.hostname = ${NAME};
+  mount.fstab = ${bastille_jail_fstab};
+  path = ${bastille_jail_path};
+}
+EOF
+    touch "${bastille_jail_fstab}"
+}
+
 generate_jail_conf() {
     cat << EOF > "${bastille_jail_conf}"
 ${NAME} {
@@ -187,176 +207,187 @@ create_jail() {
                 fi
             fi
         else
-            mkdir -p "${bastille_jailsdir}/${NAME}"
+            mkdir -p "${bastille_jailsdir}/${NAME}/root"
         fi
     fi
 
-    if [ ! -d "${bastille_jail_base}" ]; then
-        mkdir -p "${bastille_jail_base}"
-    fi
-
-    if [ ! -d "${bastille_jail_path}/usr/home" ]; then
-        mkdir -p "${bastille_jail_path}/usr/home"
-    fi
-
-    if [ ! -d "${bastille_jail_path}/usr/local" ]; then
-        mkdir -p "${bastille_jail_path}/usr/local"
-    fi
-
-    if [ ! -d "${bastille_jail_template}" ]; then
-        mkdir -p "${bastille_jail_template}"
-    fi
-
-    if [ ! -f "${bastille_jail_fstab}" ]; then
-        if [ -z "${THICK_JAIL}" ]; then
-            echo -e "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE} ${bastille_jail_base} nullfs ro 0 0" > "${bastille_jail_fstab}"
-        else
-            touch "${bastille_jail_fstab}"
-        fi
-    fi
-
-    if [ ! -f "${bastille_jail_conf}" ]; then
-        if [ -z "${bastille_network_loopback}" ] && [ -n "${bastille_network_shared}" ]; then
-            local bastille_jail_conf_interface=${bastille_network_shared}
-        fi
-        if [ -n "${bastille_network_loopback}" ] && [ -z "${bastille_network_shared}" ]; then
-            local bastille_jail_conf_interface=${bastille_network_loopback}
-        fi
-        if [ -n "${INTERFACE}" ]; then
-            local bastille_jail_conf_interface=${INTERFACE}
+    if [ -z "${EMPTY_JAIL}" ]; then
+        if [ ! -d "${bastille_jail_base}" ]; then
+            mkdir -p "${bastille_jail_base}"
         fi
 
-        ## generate the jail configuration file
-        if [ -n "${VNET_JAIL}" ]; then
-            generate_vnet_jail_conf
-        else
-            generate_jail_conf
+        if [ ! -d "${bastille_jail_path}/usr/local" ]; then
+            mkdir -p "${bastille_jail_path}/usr/local"
         fi
-    fi
 
-    ## using relative paths here
-    ## MAKE SURE WE'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE
-    cd "${bastille_jail_path}"
-    echo
-    echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}NAME: ${NAME}.${COLOR_RESET}"
-    echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}IP: ${IP}.${COLOR_RESET}"
-    if [ -n  "${INTERFACE}" ]; then
-        echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}INTERFACE: ${INTERFACE}.${COLOR_RESET}"
-    fi
-    echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}RELEASE: ${RELEASE}.${COLOR_RESET}"
-    echo
-
-    if [ -z "${THICK_JAIL}" ]; then
-        for _link in bin boot lib libexec rescue sbin usr/bin usr/include usr/lib usr/lib32 usr/libdata usr/libexec usr/sbin usr/share usr/src; do
-            ln -sf /.bastille/${_link} ${_link}
-        done
-    fi
-
-    ## link home properly
-    ln -s usr/home home
-
-    if [ -z "${THICK_JAIL}" ]; then
-        ## rw
-        ## copy only required files for thin jails
-        FILE_LIST=".cshrc .profile COPYRIGHT dev etc media mnt net proc root tmp var usr/obj usr/tests"
-        for files in ${FILE_LIST}; do
-            if [ -f "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE}/${files}" ] || [ -d "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE}/${files}" ]; then
-                cp -a "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE}/${files}" "${bastille_jail_path}/${files}"
-                if [ "$?" -ne 0 ]; then
-                    ## notify and clean stale files/directories
-                    echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Failed to copy release files, please retry create!${COLOR_RESET}"
-                    bastille destroy "${NAME}"
-                    exit 1
-                fi
-            fi
-        done
-    else
-        echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}Creating a thickjail, this may take a while...${COLOR_RESET}"
-        if [ "${bastille_zfs_enable}" = "YES" ]; then
-            if [ -n "${bastille_zfs_zpool}" ]; then
-                ## perform release base replication
-
-                ## sane bastille zfs options
-                ZFS_OPTIONS=$(echo ${bastille_zfs_options} | sed 's/-o//g')
-
-                ## take a temp snapshot of the base release
-                SNAP_NAME="bastille-$(date +%Y-%m-%d-%H%M%S)"
-                zfs snapshot "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/releases/${RELEASE}"@"${SNAP_NAME}"
-
-                ## replicate the release base to the new thickjail and set the default mountpoint
-                zfs send -R "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/releases/${RELEASE}"@"${SNAP_NAME}" | \
-                zfs receive "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${NAME}/root"
-                zfs set ${ZFS_OPTIONS} mountpoint=none "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${NAME}/root"
-                zfs inherit mountpoint "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${NAME}/root"
-
-                ## cleanup temp snapshots initially
-                zfs destroy "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/releases/${RELEASE}"@"${SNAP_NAME}"
-                zfs destroy "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${NAME}/root"@"${SNAP_NAME}"
-
-                if [ "$?" -ne 0 ]; then
-                    ## notify and clean stale files/directories
-                    echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Failed release base replication, please retry create!${COLOR_RESET}"
-                    bastille destroy "${NAME}"
-                    exit 1
-                fi
-            fi
-        else
-            ## copy all files for thick jails
-            cp -a "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE}/" "${bastille_jail_path}"
-            if [ "$?" -ne 0 ]; then
-                ## notify and clean stale files/directories
-                echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Failed to copy release files, please retry create!${COLOR_RESET}"
-                bastille destroy "${NAME}"
-                exit 1
-            fi
+        if [ ! -d "${bastille_jail_template}" ]; then
+            mkdir -p "${bastille_jail_template}"
         fi
-    fi
 
-    ## rc.conf
-    ##  + syslogd_flags="-ss"
-    ##  + sendmail_none="NONE"
-    ##  + cron_flags="-J 60" ## cedwards 20181118
-    if [ ! -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" ]; then
-        touch "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}"
-        sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" syslogd_flags=-ss
-        sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" sendmail_enable=NONE
-        sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" cron_flags='-J 60'
-
-        ## VNET specific
-        if [ -n "${VNET_JAIL}" ]; then
-            ## rename interface to generic vnet0
-            uniq_epair=$(grep vnet.interface "${bastille_jailsdir}/${NAME}/jail.conf" | awk '{print $3}' | sed 's/;//')
-            /usr/sbin/sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" "ifconfig_${uniq_epair}_name"=vnet0
-
-            ## if 0.0.0.0 set DHCP
-            ## else set static address
-            if [ "${IP}" == "0.0.0.0" ]; then
-                /usr/sbin/sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" ifconfig_vnet0="SYNCDHCP"
+        if [ ! -f "${bastille_jail_fstab}" ]; then
+            if [ -z "${THICK_JAIL}" ]; then
+                echo -e "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE} ${bastille_jail_base} nullfs ro 0 0" > "${bastille_jail_fstab}"
             else
-                /usr/sbin/sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" ifconfig_vnet0="inet ${IP}"
-                if [ -n "${bastille_network_gateway}" ]; then
-                    /usr/sbin/sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" defaultrouter="${bastille_network_gateway}"
-                else
-                    /usr/sbin/sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" defaultrouter="$(netstat -rn | awk '/default/ {print $2}')"
-                fi
+                touch "${bastille_jail_fstab}"
+            fi
+        fi
+
+        if [ ! -f "${bastille_jail_conf}" ]; then
+            if [ -z "${bastille_network_loopback}" ] && [ -n "${bastille_network_shared}" ]; then
+                local bastille_jail_conf_interface=${bastille_network_shared}
+            fi
+            if [ -n "${bastille_network_loopback}" ] && [ -z "${bastille_network_shared}" ]; then
+                local bastille_jail_conf_interface=${bastille_network_loopback}
+            fi
+            if [ -n "${INTERFACE}" ]; then
+                local bastille_jail_conf_interface=${INTERFACE}
             fi
 
-            ## VNET requires jib script
-            if [ ! "$(command -v jib)" ]; then
-                if [ -f /usr/share/examples/jails/jib ] && [ ! -f /usr/local/bin/jib ]; then
-                    install -m 0544 /usr/share/examples/jails/jib /usr/local/bin/jib
+            ## generate the jail configuration file
+            if [ -n "${VNET_JAIL}" ]; then
+                generate_vnet_jail_conf
+            else
+                generate_jail_conf
+            fi
+        fi
+
+        ## using relative paths here
+        ## MAKE SURE WE'RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE
+        cd "${bastille_jail_path}"
+        echo
+        echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}NAME: ${NAME}.${COLOR_RESET}"
+        echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}IP: ${IP}.${COLOR_RESET}"
+        if [ -n  "${INTERFACE}" ]; then
+            echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}INTERFACE: ${INTERFACE}.${COLOR_RESET}"
+        fi
+        echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}RELEASE: ${RELEASE}.${COLOR_RESET}"
+        echo
+
+        if [ -z "${THICK_JAIL}" ]; then
+            LINK_LIST="bin boot lib libexec rescue sbin usr/bin usr/include usr/lib usr/lib32 usr/libdata usr/libexec usr/sbin usr/share usr/src"
+            for _link in ${LINK_LIST}; do
+                ln -sf /.bastille/${_link} ${_link}
+            done
+        fi
+
+        if [ -z "${THICK_JAIL}" ]; then
+            ## rw
+            ## copy only required files for thin jails
+            FILE_LIST=".cshrc .profile COPYRIGHT dev etc media mnt net proc root tmp var usr/obj usr/tests"
+            for files in ${FILE_LIST}; do
+                if [ -f "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE}/${files}" ] || [ -d "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE}/${files}" ]; then
+                    cp -a "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE}/${files}" "${bastille_jail_path}/${files}"
+                    if [ "$?" -ne 0 ]; then
+                        ## notify and clean stale files/directories
+                        bastille destroy "${NAME}"
+                        error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Failed to copy release files, please retry create!${COLOR_RESET}"
+                    fi
+                fi
+            done
+        else
+            echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}Creating a thickjail, this may take a while...${COLOR_RESET}"
+            if [ "${bastille_zfs_enable}" = "YES" ]; then
+                if [ -n "${bastille_zfs_zpool}" ]; then
+                    ## perform release base replication
+
+                    ## sane bastille zfs options
+                    ZFS_OPTIONS=$(echo ${bastille_zfs_options} | sed 's/-o//g')
+
+                    ## take a temp snapshot of the base release
+                    SNAP_NAME="bastille-$(date +%Y-%m-%d-%H%M%S)"
+                    zfs snapshot "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/releases/${RELEASE}"@"${SNAP_NAME}"
+
+                    ## replicate the release base to the new thickjail and set the default mountpoint
+                    zfs send -R "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/releases/${RELEASE}"@"${SNAP_NAME}" | \
+                    zfs receive "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${NAME}/root"
+                    zfs set ${ZFS_OPTIONS} mountpoint=none "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${NAME}/root"
+                    zfs inherit mountpoint "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${NAME}/root"
+
+                    ## cleanup temp snapshots initially
+                    zfs destroy "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/releases/${RELEASE}"@"${SNAP_NAME}"
+                    zfs destroy "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${NAME}/root"@"${SNAP_NAME}"
+
+                    if [ "$?" -ne 0 ]; then
+                        ## notify and clean stale files/directories
+                        bastille destroy "${NAME}"
+                        error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Failed release base replication, please retry create!${COLOR_RESET}"
+                    fi
+                fi
+            else
+                ## copy all files for thick jails
+                cp -a "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE}/" "${bastille_jail_path}"
+                if [ "$?" -ne 0 ]; then
+                    ## notify and clean stale files/directories
+                    bastille destroy "${NAME}"
+                    error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Failed to copy release files, please retry create!${COLOR_RESET}"
                 fi
             fi
         fi
-    fi
 
-    ## resolv.conf (default: copy from host)
-    if [ ! -f "${bastille_jail_resolv_conf}" ]; then
-        cp -L "${bastille_resolv_conf}" "${bastille_jail_resolv_conf}"
-    fi
+        ## create home directory if missing
+        if [ ! -d "${bastille_jail_path}/usr/home" ]; then
+            mkdir -p "${bastille_jail_path}/usr/home"
+        fi
+        ## link home properly
+        if [ ! -L "home" ]; then
+            ln -s usr/home home
+        fi
 
-    ## TZ: configurable (default: Etc/UTC)
-    ln -s "/usr/share/zoneinfo/${bastille_tzdata}" etc/localtime
+        ## rc.conf
+        ## + syslogd_flags="-ss"
+        ## + sendmail_enable="NO"
+        ## + sendmail_submit_enable="NO"
+        ## + sendmail_outbound_enable="NO"
+        ## + sendmail_msp_queue_enable="NO"
+        ## + cron_flags="-J 60" ## cedwards 20181118
+        if [ ! -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" ]; then
+            touch "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}"
+            sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" syslogd_flags="-ss"
+            sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" sendmail_enable="NO"
+            sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" sendmail_submit_enable="NO"
+            sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" sendmail_outbound_enable="NO"
+            sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" sendmail_msp_queue_enable="NO"
+            sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" cron_flags="-J 60"
+
+            ## VNET specific
+            if [ -n "${VNET_JAIL}" ]; then
+                ## rename interface to generic vnet0
+                uniq_epair=$(grep vnet.interface "${bastille_jailsdir}/${NAME}/jail.conf" | awk '{print $3}' | sed 's/;//')
+                /usr/sbin/sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" "ifconfig_${uniq_epair}_name"=vnet0
+
+                ## if 0.0.0.0 set DHCP
+                ## else set static address
+                if [ "${IP}" == "0.0.0.0" ]; then
+                    /usr/sbin/sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" ifconfig_vnet0="SYNCDHCP"
+                else
+                    /usr/sbin/sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" ifconfig_vnet0="inet ${IP}"
+                    if [ -n "${bastille_network_gateway}" ]; then
+                        /usr/sbin/sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" defaultrouter="${bastille_network_gateway}"
+                    else
+                        /usr/sbin/sysrc -f "${bastille_jail_rc_conf}" defaultrouter="$(netstat -rn | awk '/default/ {print $2}')"
+                    fi
+                fi
+
+                ## VNET requires jib script
+                if [ ! "$(command -v jib)" ]; then
+                    if [ -f /usr/share/examples/jails/jib ] && [ ! -f /usr/local/bin/jib ]; then
+                        install -m 0544 /usr/share/examples/jails/jib /usr/local/bin/jib
+                    fi
+                fi
+            fi
+        fi
+
+        ## resolv.conf (default: copy from host)
+        if [ ! -f "${bastille_jail_resolv_conf}" ]; then
+            cp -L "${bastille_resolv_conf}" "${bastille_jail_resolv_conf}"
+        fi
+
+        ## TZ: configurable (default: Etc/UTC)
+        ln -s "/usr/share/zoneinfo/${bastille_tzdata}" etc/localtime
+    else
+        ## Generate minimal configuration for empty jail
+        generate_minimal_conf
+    fi
 }
 
 # Handle special-case commands first.
@@ -372,6 +403,7 @@ if echo "$3" | grep '@'; then
 fi
 
 ## reset this options
+EMPTY_JAIL=""
 THICK_JAIL=""
 VNET_JAIL=""
 
@@ -384,6 +416,10 @@ if [ "${1}" = "-T" -o "${1}" = "--thick" -o "${1}" = "thick" ] && \
 else
     ## handle single options
     case "${1}" in
+        -E|--empty|empty)
+            shift
+            EMPTY_JAIL="1"
+            ;;
         -T|--thick|thick)
             shift
             THICK_JAIL="1"
@@ -404,64 +440,86 @@ RELEASE="$2"
 IP="$3"
 INTERFACE="$4"
 
-if [ $# -gt 4 ] || [ $# -lt 3 ]; then
-    usage
+if [ -n "${EMPTY_JAIL}" ]; then
+    if [ $# -ne 1 ]; then
+        usage
+    fi
+else
+    if [ $# -gt 4 ] || [ $# -lt 3 ]; then
+        usage
+    fi
 fi
 
-## don't allow for dots(.) in container names
-if echo "${NAME}" | grep -q "[.]"; then
-    echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Container names may not contain a dot(.)!${COLOR_RESET}"
-    exit 1
+## validate jail name
+if [ -n "${NAME}" ]; then
+    validate_name
 fi
 
-## verify release
-case "${RELEASE}" in
-*-RELEASE|*-release|*-RC1|*-rc1|*-RC2|*-rc2)
-    ## check for FreeBSD releases name
-    NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '^([1-9]{2,2})\.[0-9](-RELEASE|-RC[1-2])$' | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]')
-    validate_release
-    ;;
-*-stable-LAST|*-STABLE-last|*-stable-last|*-STABLE-LAST)
-    ## check for HardenedBSD releases name(previous infrastructure)
-    NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '^([1-9]{2,2})(-stable-last)$' | sed 's/STABLE/stable/g' | sed 's/last/LAST/g')
-    validate_release
-    ;;
-*-stable-build-[0-9]*|*-STABLE-BUILD-[0-9]*)
-    ## check for HardenedBSD(specific stable build releases)
-    NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '([0-9]{1,2})(-stable-build)-([0-9]{1,3})$' | sed 's/BUILD/build/g' | sed 's/STABLE/stable/g')
-    validate_release
-    ;;
-*-stable-build-latest|*-stable-BUILD-LATEST|*-STABLE-BUILD-LATEST)
-    ## check for HardenedBSD(latest stable build release)
-    NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '([0-9]{1,2})(-stable-build-latest)$' | sed 's/STABLE/stable/g' | sed 's/build/BUILD/g' | sed 's/latest/LATEST/g')
-    validate_release
-    ;;
-current-build-[0-9]*|CURRENT-BUILD-[0-9]*)
-    ## check for HardenedBSD(specific current build releases)
-    NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '(current-build)-([0-9]{1,3})' | sed 's/BUILD/build/g' | sed 's/CURRENT/current/g')
-    validate_release
-    ;;
-current-build-latest|current-BUILD-LATEST|CURRENT-BUILD-LATEST)
-    ## check for HardenedBSD(latest current build release)
-    NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '(current-build-latest)' | sed 's/CURRENT/current/g' | sed 's/build/BUILD/g' | sed 's/latest/LATEST/g')
-    validate_release
-    ;;
-*)
-    echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Unknown Release.${COLOR_RESET}"
-    usage
-    ;;
-esac
+if [ -z "${EMPTY_JAIL}" ]; then
+    ## verify release
+    case "${RELEASE}" in
+    *-RELEASE|*-release|*-RC1|*-rc1|*-RC2|*-rc2)
+        ## check for FreeBSD releases name
+        NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '^([1-9]{2,2})\.[0-9](-RELEASE|-RC[1-2])$' | tr '[:lower:]' '[:upper:]')
+        validate_release
+        ;;
+    *-stable-LAST|*-STABLE-last|*-stable-last|*-STABLE-LAST)
+        ## check for HardenedBSD releases name(previous infrastructure)
+        NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '^([1-9]{2,2})(-stable-last)$' | sed 's/STABLE/stable/g' | sed 's/last/LAST/g')
+        validate_release
+        ;;
+    *-stable-build-[0-9]*|*-STABLE-BUILD-[0-9]*)
+        ## check for HardenedBSD(specific stable build releases)
+        NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '([0-9]{1,2})(-stable-build)-([0-9]{1,3})$' | sed 's/BUILD/build/g' | sed 's/STABLE/stable/g')
+        validate_release
+        ;;
+    *-stable-build-latest|*-stable-BUILD-LATEST|*-STABLE-BUILD-LATEST)
+        ## check for HardenedBSD(latest stable build release)
+        NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '([0-9]{1,2})(-stable-build-latest)$' | sed 's/STABLE/stable/g' | sed 's/build/BUILD/g' | sed 's/latest/LATEST/g')
+        validate_release
+        ;;
+    current-build-[0-9]*|CURRENT-BUILD-[0-9]*)
+        ## check for HardenedBSD(specific current build releases)
+        NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '(current-build)-([0-9]{1,3})' | sed 's/BUILD/build/g' | sed 's/CURRENT/current/g')
+        validate_release
+        ;;
+    current-build-latest|current-BUILD-LATEST|CURRENT-BUILD-LATEST)
+        ## check for HardenedBSD(latest current build release)
+        NAME_VERIFY=$(echo "${RELEASE}" | grep -iwE '(current-build-latest)' | sed 's/CURRENT/current/g' | sed 's/build/BUILD/g' | sed 's/latest/LATEST/g')
+        validate_release
+        ;;
+    *)
+        echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Unknown Release.${COLOR_RESET}"
+        usage
+        ;;
+    esac
 
-## check for name/root/.bastille
-if [ -d "${bastille_jailsdir}/${NAME}/root/.bastille" ]; then
-    echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Jail: ${NAME} already created. ${NAME}/root/.bastille exists.${COLOR_RESET}"
-    exit 1
-fi
+    ## check for name/root/.bastille
+    if [ -d "${bastille_jailsdir}/${NAME}/root/.bastille" ]; then
+        error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Jail: ${NAME} already created. ${NAME}/root/.bastille exists.${COLOR_RESET}"
+    fi
 
-## check for required release
-if [ ! -d "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE}" ]; then
-    echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Release must be bootstrapped first; see 'bastille bootstrap'.${COLOR_RESET}"
-    exit 1
+    ## check for required release
+    if [ ! -d "${bastille_releasesdir}/${RELEASE}" ]; then
+        error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Release must be bootstrapped first; see 'bastille bootstrap'.${COLOR_RESET}"
+    fi
+
+    ## check if ip address is valid
+    if [ -n "${IP}" ]; then
+        validate_ip
+    else
+        usage
+    fi
+
+    ## check if interface is valid
+    if [ -n  "${INTERFACE}" ]; then
+        validate_netif
+        validate_netconf
+    else
+        validate_netconf
+    fi
+else
+    echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}Creating empty jail: ${NAME}.${COLOR_RESET}"
 fi
 
 ## check if a running jail matches name or already exist
@@ -469,19 +527,4 @@ if [ -n "${NAME}" ]; then
     running_jail
 fi
 
-## check if ip address is valid
-if [ -n "${IP}" ]; then
-    validate_ip
-else
-    usage
-fi
-
-## check if interface is valid
-if [ -n  "${INTERFACE}" ]; then
-    validate_netif
-    validate_netconf
-else
-    validate_netconf
-fi
-
 create_jail "${NAME}" "${RELEASE}" "${IP}" "${INTERFACE}"
diff --git a/usr/local/share/bastille/import.sh b/usr/local/share/bastille/import.sh
index 2f7fbb1a..6b64f6d3 100644
--- a/usr/local/share/bastille/import.sh
+++ b/usr/local/share/bastille/import.sh
@@ -109,9 +109,9 @@ update_jailconf() {
     if [ -f "${JAIL_CONFIG}" ]; then
         if ! grep -qw "path = ${bastille_jailsdir}/${TARGET_TRIM}/root;" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"; then
             echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}Updating jail.conf...${COLOR_RESET}"
-            sed -i '' "s|exec.consolelog.*= .*;|exec.consolelog = ${bastille_logsdir}/${TARGET_TRIM}_console.log;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
-            sed -i '' "s|path.*= .*;|path = ${bastille_jailsdir}/${TARGET_TRIM}/root;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
-            sed -i '' "s|mount.fstab.*= .*;|mount.fstab = ${bastille_jailsdir}/${TARGET_TRIM}/fstab;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
+            sed -i '' "s|exec.consolelog.*=.*;|exec.consolelog = ${bastille_logsdir}/${TARGET_TRIM}_console.log;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
+            sed -i '' "s|path.*=.*;|path = ${bastille_jailsdir}/${TARGET_TRIM}/root;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
+            sed -i '' "s|mount.fstab.*=.*;|mount.fstab = ${bastille_jailsdir}/${TARGET_TRIM}/fstab;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
         fi
     fi
 }
diff --git a/usr/local/share/bastille/rename.sh b/usr/local/share/bastille/rename.sh
index c4645f86..5f4d0fc1 100644
--- a/usr/local/share/bastille/rename.sh
+++ b/usr/local/share/bastille/rename.sh
@@ -42,6 +42,14 @@ error_notify() {
     exit 1
 }
 
+validate_name() {
+    local NAME_VERIFY=${NEWNAME}
+    local NAME_SANITY=$(echo "${NAME_VERIFY}" | tr -c -d 'a-zA-Z0-9-_')
+    if [ "${NAME_VERIFY}" != "${NAME_SANITY}" ]; then
+        error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Container names may not contain special characters!${COLOR_RESET}"
+    fi
+}
+
 # Handle special-case commands first
 case "$1" in
 help|-h|--help)
@@ -57,21 +65,16 @@ TARGET="${1}"
 NEWNAME="${2}"
 shift
 
-if echo "${NEWNAME}" | grep -q "[.]"; then
-    echo -e "${COLOR_RED}Container names may not contain a dot(.)!${COLOR_RESET}"
-    exit 1
-fi
-
 update_jailconf() {
     # Update jail.conf
     JAIL_CONFIG="${bastille_jailsdir}/${NEWNAME}/jail.conf"
     if [ -f "${JAIL_CONFIG}" ]; then
         if ! grep -qw "path = ${bastille_jailsdir}/${NEWNAME}/root;" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"; then
-            sed -i '' "s|host.hostname = ${TARGET};|host.hostname = ${NEWNAME};|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
-            sed -i '' "s|exec.consolelog = .*;|exec.consolelog = ${bastille_logsdir}/${NEWNAME}_console.log;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
-            sed -i '' "s|path = .*;|path = ${bastille_jailsdir}/${NEWNAME}/root;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
-            sed -i '' "s|mount.fstab = .*;|mount.fstab = ${bastille_jailsdir}/${NEWNAME}/fstab;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
-            sed -i '' "s|${TARGET} {|${NEWNAME} {|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
+            sed -i '' "s|host.hostname.*=.*${TARGET};|host.hostname = ${NEWNAME};|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
+            sed -i '' "s|exec.consolelog.*=.*;|exec.consolelog = ${bastille_logsdir}/${NEWNAME}_console.log;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
+            sed -i '' "s|path.*=.*;|path = ${bastille_jailsdir}/${NEWNAME}/root;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
+            sed -i '' "s|mount.fstab.*=.*;|mount.fstab = ${bastille_jailsdir}/${NEWNAME}/fstab;|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
+            sed -i '' "s|${TARGET}.*{|${NEWNAME} {|" "${JAIL_CONFIG}"
         fi
     fi
 }
@@ -97,14 +100,33 @@ change_name() {
     if [ -d "${bastille_jailsdir}/${TARGET}" ]; then
         echo -e "${COLOR_GREEN}Attempting to rename '${TARGET}' to ${NEWNAME}...${COLOR_RESET}"
         if [ "${bastille_zfs_enable}" = "YES" ]; then
-            if [ -n "${bastille_zfs_zpool}" ]; then
-                # Rename ZFS dataset and mount points accordingly
-                zfs rename "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${TARGET}" "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${NEWNAME}"
-                zfs set mountpoint="${bastille_jailsdir}/${NEWNAME}/root" "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${NEWNAME}/root"
+            if [ -n "${bastille_zfs_zpool}" ] && [ -n "${bastille_zfs_prefix}" ]; then
+                # Check and rename container ZFS dataset accordingly
+                # Perform additional checks in case of non-zfs existing containers
+                if zfs list | grep -qw "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${TARGET}"; then
+                    zfs rename "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${TARGET}" "${bastille_zfs_zpool}/${bastille_zfs_prefix}/jails/${NEWNAME}"
+                else
+                    # Check and rename container directory instead
+                    if ! zfs list | grep -qw "jails/${TARGET}$"; then
+                        mv "${bastille_jailsdir}/${TARGET}" "${bastille_jailsdir}/${NEWNAME}"
+                    fi
+                fi
             fi
         else
-            # Just rename the jail directory
-            mv "${bastille_jailsdir}/${TARGET}" "${bastille_jailsdir}/${NEWNAME}"
+            # Check if container is a zfs/dataset before rename attempt
+            # Perform additional checks in case of bastille.conf miss-configuration
+            if zfs list | grep -qw "jails/${TARGET}$"; then
+                ZFS_DATASET_ORIGIN=$(zfs list | grep -w "jails/${TARGET}$" | awk '{print $1}')
+                ZFS_DATASET_TARGET=$(echo "${ZFS_DATASET_ORIGIN}" | sed "s|\/${TARGET}||")
+                if [ -n "${ZFS_DATASET_ORIGIN}" ] && [ -n "${ZFS_DATASET_TARGET}" ]; then
+                    zfs rename "${ZFS_DATASET_ORIGIN}" "${ZFS_DATASET_TARGET}/${NEWNAME}"
+                else
+                    error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Can't determine the zfs origin path of '${TARGET}'.${COLOR_RESET}"
+                fi
+            else
+                # Just rename the jail directory
+                mv "${bastille_jailsdir}/${TARGET}" "${bastille_jailsdir}/${NEWNAME}"
+            fi
         fi
     else
         error_notify "${COLOR_RED}${TARGET} not found. See bootstrap.${COLOR_RESET}"
@@ -114,10 +136,7 @@ change_name() {
     update_jailconf
     update_fstab
 
-    # Remove the old jail directory if exist
-    if [ -d "${bastille_jailsdir}/${TARGET}" ]; then
-        rm -r "${bastille_jailsdir}/${TARGET}"
-    fi
+    # Check exit status and notify
     if [ "$?" -ne 0 ]; then
         error_notify "${COLOR_RED}An error has occurred while attempting to rename '${TARGET}'.${COLOR_RESET}"
     else
@@ -125,9 +144,16 @@ change_name() {
     fi
 }
 
-# Check if container is running
-if [ -n "$(jls name | awk "/^${TARGET}$/")" ]; then
-    error_notify "${COLOR_RED}${TARGET} is running, See 'bastille stop'.${COLOR_RESET}"
+## check if a running jail matches name or already exist
+if [ "$(jls name | awk "/^${TARGET}$/")" ]; then
+    error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Warning: ${TARGET} is running or the name does match.${COLOR_RESET}"
+elif [ -d "${bastille_jailsdir}/${NEWNAME}" ]; then
+    error_notify "${COLOR_RED}Jail: ${NEWNAME} already exist.${COLOR_RESET}"
+fi
+
+## validate jail name
+if [ -n "${NEWNAME}" ]; then
+    validate_name
 fi
 
 change_name