diff --git a/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py b/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py
index 9f4c0c05e04c..dc9b92bc5914 100644
--- a/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py
+++ b/nova/api/ec2/cloud.py
@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@ def _gen_key(context, user_id, key_name):
     #             creation before creating key_pair
     try:
         db.key_pair_get(context, user_id, key_name)
-        raise exception.Duplicate(_("The key_pair %s already exists")
-                                  % key_name)
+        raise exception.KeyPairExists(key_name=key_name)
     except exception.NotFound:
         pass
     private_key, public_key, fingerprint = crypto.generate_key_pair()
diff --git a/nova/auth/dbdriver.py b/nova/auth/dbdriver.py
index b2c580d83609..4f5022b9a4c3 100644
--- a/nova/auth/dbdriver.py
+++ b/nova/auth/dbdriver.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class DbDriver(object):
             user_ref = db.user_create(context.get_admin_context(), values)
             return self._db_user_to_auth_user(user_ref)
         except exception.Duplicate, e:
-            raise exception.Duplicate(_('User %s already exists') % name)
+            raise exception.UserExists(user=name)
 
     def _db_user_to_auth_user(self, user_ref):
         return {'id': user_ref['id'],
@@ -132,8 +132,7 @@ class DbDriver(object):
         try:
             project = db.project_create(context.get_admin_context(), values)
         except exception.Duplicate:
-            raise exception.Duplicate(_("Project can't be created because "
-                                        "project %s already exists") % name)
+            raise exception.ProjectExists(project=name)
 
         for member in members:
             db.project_add_member(context.get_admin_context(),
diff --git a/nova/auth/ldapdriver.py b/nova/auth/ldapdriver.py
index fcac555100f1..1feb77625568 100644
--- a/nova/auth/ldapdriver.py
+++ b/nova/auth/ldapdriver.py
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ class LdapDriver(object):
     def create_user(self, name, access_key, secret_key, is_admin):
         """Create a user"""
         if self.__user_exists(name):
-            raise exception.Duplicate(_("LDAP user %s already exists") % name)
+            raise exception.LDAPUserExists(user=name)
         if FLAGS.ldap_user_modify_only:
             if self.__ldap_user_exists(name):
                 # Retrieve user by name
@@ -226,8 +226,7 @@ class LdapDriver(object):
                        description=None, member_uids=None):
         """Create a project"""
         if self.__project_exists(name):
-            raise exception.Duplicate(_("Project can't be created because "
-                                        "project %s already exists") % name)
+            raise exception.ProjectExists(project=name)
         if not self.__user_exists(manager_uid):
             raise exception.NotFound(_("Project can't be created because "
                                        "manager %s doesn't exist")
@@ -471,8 +470,7 @@ class LdapDriver(object):
                        description, member_uids=None):
         """Create a group"""
         if self.__group_exists(group_dn):
-            raise exception.Duplicate(_("Group can't be created because "
-                                        "group %s already exists") % name)
+            raise exception.LDAPGroupExists(group=name)
         members = []
         if member_uids is not None:
             for member_uid in member_uids:
@@ -512,8 +510,7 @@ class LdapDriver(object):
             raise exception.NotFound(_("The group at dn %s doesn't exist") %
                                      group_dn)
         if self.__is_in_group(uid, group_dn):
-            raise exception.Duplicate(_("User %(uid)s is already a member of "
-                                        "the group %(group_dn)s") % locals())
+            raise exception.LDAPMembershipExists(uid=uid, group_dn=group_dn)
         attr = [(self.ldap.MOD_ADD, 'member', self.__uid_to_dn(uid))]
         self.conn.modify_s(group_dn, attr)
 
diff --git a/nova/exception.py b/nova/exception.py
index 01a9d183a006..dcbe2c50e508 100644
--- a/nova/exception.py
+++ b/nova/exception.py
@@ -71,10 +71,6 @@ class VolumeNotFound(NotFound):
         super(VolumeNotFound, self).__init__(message)
 
 
-class Duplicate(Error):
-    pass
-
-
 class NotAuthorized(Error):
     pass
 
@@ -228,3 +224,37 @@ class InvalidVLANPortGroup(Invalid):
 
 class ImageUnacceptable(Invalid):
     message = _("Image %(image_id)s is unacceptable") + ": %(reason)s"
+
+
+#TODO(bcwaldon): EOL this exception!
+class Duplicate(NovaException):
+    pass
+
+
+class KeyPairExists(Duplicate):
+    message = _("Key pair %(key_name)s already exists.")
+
+
+class UserExists(Duplicate):
+    message = _("User %(user)s already exists.")
+
+
+class LDAPUserExists(UserExists):
+    message = _("LDAP user %(user)s already exists.")
+
+
+class LDAPGroupExists(Duplicate):
+    message = _("LDAP group %(group)s already exists.")
+
+
+class LDAPMembershipExists(Duplicate):
+    message = _("User %(uid)s is already a member of "
+                "the group %(group_dn)s")
+
+
+class ProjectExists(Duplicate):
+    message = _("Project %(project)s already exists.")
+
+
+class InstanceExists(Duplicate):
+    message = _("Instance %(name)s already exists.")
diff --git a/nova/virt/hyperv.py b/nova/virt/hyperv.py
index 13f403a66837..85d5190fbee6 100644
--- a/nova/virt/hyperv.py
+++ b/nova/virt/hyperv.py
@@ -143,8 +143,7 @@ class HyperVConnection(driver.ComputeDriver):
         """ Create a new VM and start it."""
         vm = self._lookup(instance.name)
         if vm is not None:
-            raise exception.Duplicate(_('Attempt to create duplicate vm %s') %
-                    instance.name)
+            raise exception.InstanceExists(name=instance.name)
 
         user = manager.AuthManager().get_user(instance['user_id'])
         project = manager.AuthManager().get_project(instance['project_id'])
diff --git a/nova/virt/vmwareapi/vmops.py b/nova/virt/vmwareapi/vmops.py
index b700c438fb63..d77f9f8cb73a 100644
--- a/nova/virt/vmwareapi/vmops.py
+++ b/nova/virt/vmwareapi/vmops.py
@@ -100,8 +100,7 @@ class VMWareVMOps(object):
         """
         vm_ref = self._get_vm_ref_from_the_name(instance.name)
         if vm_ref:
-            raise exception.Duplicate(_("Attempted to create a VM with a name"
-                " %s, but that already exists on the host") % instance.name)
+            raise exception.InstanceExists(name=instance.name)
 
         client_factory = self._session._get_vim().client.factory
         service_content = self._session._get_vim().get_service_content()
diff --git a/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py b/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py
index 1927500adc21..b5835da7c7f1 100644
--- a/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py
+++ b/nova/virt/xenapi/vm_utils.py
@@ -643,8 +643,7 @@ class VMHelper(HelperBase):
         if n == 0:
             return None
         elif n > 1:
-            raise exception.Duplicate(_('duplicate name found: %s') %
-                                        name_label)
+            raise exception.InstanceExists(name=name_label)
         else:
             return vm_refs[0]
 
diff --git a/nova/virt/xenapi/vmops.py b/nova/virt/xenapi/vmops.py
index 8b6a35f7419d..f11f8ce400d9 100644
--- a/nova/virt/xenapi/vmops.py
+++ b/nova/virt/xenapi/vmops.py
@@ -127,8 +127,7 @@ class VMOps(object):
         instance_name = instance.name
         vm_ref = VMHelper.lookup(self._session, instance_name)
         if vm_ref is not None:
-            raise exception.Duplicate(_('Attempted to create'
-                    ' non-unique name %s') % instance_name)
+            raise exception.InstanceExists(name=instance_name)
 
         #ensure enough free memory is available
         if not VMHelper.ensure_free_mem(self._session, instance):