diff --git a/instances/jobs.py b/instances/jobs.py
index 3ffddf36..e01e97c6 100644
--- a/instances/jobs.py
+++ b/instances/jobs.py
@@ -714,7 +714,14 @@ class CloneInstance(Kind):
         if not success:
             _delete_created(proxy, op)
             return Outcome(ended, error=say(errmsg or _("The copy failed")))
-        proxy.define_clone(op.intent["clone"], op.intent["uuid"], {c["dev"]: c["path"] for c in created})
+        try:
+            proxy.define_clone(op.intent["clone"], op.intent["uuid"], {c["dev"]: c["path"] for c in created})
+        except util.ConnectionFailed:
+            raise  # unreachable: recovery waits and retries
+        except libvirtError as err:  # it would fail the same way at every retry
+            return Outcome(Operation.UNCERTAIN, error=say(_(
+                "The disks were copied, but the clone could not be defined: %(error)s; check these volumes, "
+                "then resolve this job: %(volumes)s"), error=err, volumes=volumes))
         return Outcome(Operation.SUCCEEDED, result=_clone_made(op, _finish_clone(op, op.intent["clone"], [])))
 
     def log_entry(self, op, state):
diff --git a/instances/tests/test_clone_job.py b/instances/tests/test_clone_job.py
index 99133049..c3cd21b4 100644
--- a/instances/tests/test_clone_job.py
+++ b/instances/tests/test_clone_job.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from instances.jobs import CloneInstance
 from instances.models import Instance
 from operations.utils import words
 from operations.jobs import Cancelled, Context
-from vrtManager.util import OperationError
+from vrtManager.util import ConnectionFailed, OperationError
 from operations.models import Claim, Operation, acquire
 
 
@@ -601,6 +601,17 @@ class LiveCloneJobTestCase(TransactionTestCase):
                 Instance.objects.filter(uuid=op.intent["uuid"]).delete()
                 op.delete()
 
+    def test_recovery_that_cannot_define_the_clone_ends_uncertain(self):
+        # the worker stopped after define_clone copied the UEFI variables: a retry finds the copy there
+        self.track("define_clone", libvirt_error(libvirt.VIR_ERR_STORAGE_VOL_EXIST))
+        outcome, _op = self.recovered(copy_result=[True, ""])
+        self.assertEqual(outcome.state, Operation.UNCERTAIN)
+        self.assertIn("/real/copy-vda.qcow2", words(outcome.error))
+        self.assertEqual(self.deleted(), [])
+        self.track("define_clone", ConnectionFailed("host down"))
+        with self.assertRaises(ConnectionFailed):
+            self.recovered(copy_result=[True, ""])
+
     def test_recovery_gives_the_clone_the_size_asked_and_starts_it(self):
         clone = {"name": "copy", "disk-vda": "copy-vda.qcow2", "disk_owner_uid": 107, "disk_owner_gid": 107,
                  "vcpu": 2, "memory": None, "start": True}
diff --git a/locale/tr/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo b/locale/tr/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo
index e7de45a2..c4f6e855 100644
Binary files a/locale/tr/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo and b/locale/tr/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo differ
diff --git a/locale/tr/LC_MESSAGES/django.po b/locale/tr/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
index 9ec883a3..12805bfe 100644
--- a/locale/tr/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
+++ b/locale/tr/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
@@ -2857,7 +2857,7 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "Clone VM"
 msgstr "Sanal makineyi klonla"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:559 instances/jobs.py:566 instances/jobs.py:834
+#: instances/jobs.py:559 instances/jobs.py:566 instances/jobs.py:841
 msgid "Copying disks"
 msgstr "Diskler kopyalanıyor"
 
@@ -2922,140 +2922,149 @@ msgstr ""
 "libvirt'te kopyanın sonucu yok; şu birimleri kontrol edin, sonra bu işi "
 "çözün: %(volumes)s"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:739 instances/templates/create_instance_w1.html:60
+#: instances/jobs.py:723
+#, python-format
+msgid ""
+"The disks were copied, but the clone could not be defined: %(error)s; check "
+"these volumes, then resolve this job: %(volumes)s"
+msgstr ""
+"Diskler kopyalandı, ancak klon tanımlanamadı: %(error)s; şu birimleri kontrol"
+" edin, sonra bu işi çözün: %(volumes)s"
+
+#: instances/jobs.py:746 instances/templates/create_instance_w1.html:60
 #: instances/templates/create_instance_w2.html:356
 msgid "Create VM"
 msgstr "Sanal makine oluştur"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:763 instances/jobs.py:808 instances/views.py:2504
+#: instances/jobs.py:770 instances/jobs.py:815 instances/views.py:2504
 msgid "A virtual machine with this name already exists"
 msgstr "Bu isimde bir sanal makine mevcut"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:765 instances/jobs.py:805
+#: instances/jobs.py:772 instances/jobs.py:812
 msgid "There is an instance with same name. Remove it and try again!"
 msgstr "Aynı isimde başka bir sanal makine var. Onu silip yeniden deneyin!"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:768
+#: instances/jobs.py:775
 msgid "First you need to create or select an image"
 msgstr "Öncelikle bir imaj oluşturun ya da mevcut bir imajı seçin"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:770
+#: instances/jobs.py:777
 msgid "Choose one disk source: a new disk, existing volumes or a template"
 msgstr ""
 "Tek bir disk kaynağı seçin: yeni bir disk, mevcut birimler ya da bir şablon"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:772
+#: instances/jobs.py:779
 msgid "Image has already exist. Please check volumes or change instance name"
 msgstr ""
 "İmaj zaten mevcut. Lütfen ya makine adını değişin ya da disk alanlarını "
 "kontrol edin"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:774
+#: instances/jobs.py:781
 msgid "Invalid cache mode"
 msgstr "Geçersiz önbellek modu"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:776
+#: instances/jobs.py:783
 #, python-format
 msgid "This host offers no CPU mode or model %(mode)s"
 msgstr "Bu sunucu %(mode)s CPU modunu veya modelini sunmuyor"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:778
+#: instances/jobs.py:785
 #, python-format
 msgid "A CD-ROM cannot use the %(bus)s bus"
 msgstr "CD-ROM %(bus)s veri yolunu kullanamaz"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:781
+#: instances/jobs.py:788
 msgid "The cloud-init seed is read from a CD-ROM: choose its bus"
 msgstr "cloud-init tohumu bir CD-ROM'dan okunur: veri yolunu seçin"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:784
+#: instances/jobs.py:791
 msgid "The cloud-init seed needs a directory storage pool for the disk"
 msgstr "cloud-init tohumu, disk için bir dizin depolama havuzu gerektirir"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:790
+#: instances/jobs.py:797
 #, python-format
 msgid "This host offers no firmware %(firmware)s"
 msgstr "Bu sunucu %(firmware)s firmware'ini sunmuyor"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:792 vrtManager/instance.py:3023
+#: instances/jobs.py:799 vrtManager/instance.py:3023
 msgid "This host offers no TPM 2.0: install swtpm on it"
 msgstr "Bu sunucu TPM 2.0 sunmuyor: üzerine swtpm kurun"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:853
+#: instances/jobs.py:860
 msgid "Writing the cloud-init seed"
 msgstr "cloud-init tohumu yazılıyor"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:860
+#: instances/jobs.py:867
 msgid "Defining the VM"
 msgstr "Sanal makine tanımlanıyor"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:893
+#: instances/jobs.py:900
 #, python-format
 msgid "%(error)s. Remove these volumes by hand: %(volumes)s"
 msgstr "%(error)s. Şu birimleri elle silin: %(volumes)s"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:918
+#: instances/jobs.py:925
 #, python-format
 msgid "The instance is already on %(compute)s"
 msgstr "Sanal makine zaten %(compute)s üzerinde"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:920
+#: instances/jobs.py:927
 #, python-format
 msgid "%(compute)s is not reachable"
 msgstr "%(compute)s sunucusuna ulaşılamıyor"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:922
+#: instances/jobs.py:929
 #, python-format
 msgid "%(compute)s is the VM's own host under another name"
 msgstr "%(compute)s, sanal makinenin kendi sunucusunun başka bir adı"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:940
+#: instances/jobs.py:947
 msgid "Migrate VM"
 msgstr "Sanal makineyi taşı"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:984
+#: instances/jobs.py:991
 msgid "Migrating the VM"
 msgstr "Sanal makine taşınıyor"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1031
+#: instances/jobs.py:1038
 msgid "libvirt is still migrating the VM"
 msgstr "libvirt sanal makineyi hâlâ taşıyor"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1038
+#: instances/jobs.py:1045
 msgid "The VM stayed on the source host"
 msgstr "Sanal makine kaynak sunucuda kaldı"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1040
+#: instances/jobs.py:1047
 msgid ""
 "The VM is on both computes or on neither; check them, then resolve this job."
 msgstr ""
 "Sanal makine ya iki sunucuda da var ya da hiçbirinde yok; kontrol edin, sonra"
 " bu işi çözün."
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1088
+#: instances/jobs.py:1095
 msgid "Move disk"
 msgstr "Diski taşı"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1095
+#: instances/jobs.py:1102
 msgid "Choose a disk of the VM"
 msgstr "Sanal makinenin bir diskini seçin"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1119
+#: instances/jobs.py:1126
 msgid "Copying the disk"
 msgstr "Disk kopyalanıyor"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1162
+#: instances/jobs.py:1169
 #, python-format
 msgid "Another block job runs on %(dev)s; check the VM"
 msgstr ""
 "%(dev)s üzerinde başka bir blok işi çalışıyor; sanal makineyi kontrol edin"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1168
+#: instances/jobs.py:1175
 #, python-format
 msgid "The disk stayed in %(path)s; remove %(dest)s if it is there"
 msgstr "Disk %(path)s içinde kaldı; varsa %(dest)s dosyasını silin"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1170
+#: instances/jobs.py:1177
 #, python-format
 msgid "The definitions of %(dev)s name %(paths)s; check the VM"
 msgstr "%(dev)s tanımları %(paths)s gösteriyor; sanal makineyi kontrol edin"
diff --git a/locale/zh/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo b/locale/zh/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo
index e444978b..c684f630 100644
Binary files a/locale/zh/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo and b/locale/zh/LC_MESSAGES/django.mo differ
diff --git a/locale/zh/LC_MESSAGES/django.po b/locale/zh/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
index 0e3cb5a2..61f1a205 100644
--- a/locale/zh/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
+++ b/locale/zh/LC_MESSAGES/django.po
@@ -2752,7 +2752,7 @@ msgstr "无法解冻客户机的文件系统（%(error)s）；请用以下命令
 msgid "Clone VM"
 msgstr "克隆虚拟机"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:559 instances/jobs.py:566 instances/jobs.py:834
+#: instances/jobs.py:559 instances/jobs.py:566 instances/jobs.py:841
 msgid "Copying disks"
 msgstr "正在复制磁盘"
 
@@ -2807,134 +2807,141 @@ msgid ""
 "job: %(volumes)s"
 msgstr "libvirt 没有复制的结果；请检查这些卷，然后处理此任务：%(volumes)s"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:739 instances/templates/create_instance_w1.html:60
+#: instances/jobs.py:723
+#, python-format
+msgid ""
+"The disks were copied, but the clone could not be defined: %(error)s; check "
+"these volumes, then resolve this job: %(volumes)s"
+msgstr "磁盘已复制，但无法定义克隆：%(error)s；请检查这些卷，然后处理此任务：%(volumes)s"
+
+#: instances/jobs.py:746 instances/templates/create_instance_w1.html:60
 #: instances/templates/create_instance_w2.html:356
 msgid "Create VM"
 msgstr "创建虚拟机"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:763 instances/jobs.py:808 instances/views.py:2504
+#: instances/jobs.py:770 instances/jobs.py:815 instances/views.py:2504
 msgid "A virtual machine with this name already exists"
 msgstr "同名虚拟机已存在"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:765 instances/jobs.py:805
+#: instances/jobs.py:772 instances/jobs.py:812
 msgid "There is an instance with same name. Remove it and try again!"
 msgstr "已存在同名虚拟机。请删除后重试！"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:768
+#: instances/jobs.py:775
 msgid "First you need to create or select an image"
 msgstr "请先创建或选择一个镜像"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:770
+#: instances/jobs.py:777
 msgid "Choose one disk source: a new disk, existing volumes or a template"
 msgstr "请选择一种磁盘来源：新磁盘、现有卷或模板"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:772
+#: instances/jobs.py:779
 msgid "Image has already exist. Please check volumes or change instance name"
 msgstr "镜像已存在。请检查卷或更改虚拟机名称"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:774
+#: instances/jobs.py:781
 msgid "Invalid cache mode"
 msgstr "无效的缓存模式"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:776
+#: instances/jobs.py:783
 #, python-format
 msgid "This host offers no CPU mode or model %(mode)s"
 msgstr "此主机不提供 CPU 模式或型号 %(mode)s"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:778
+#: instances/jobs.py:785
 #, python-format
 msgid "A CD-ROM cannot use the %(bus)s bus"
 msgstr "CD-ROM 不能使用 %(bus)s 总线"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:781
+#: instances/jobs.py:788
 msgid "The cloud-init seed is read from a CD-ROM: choose its bus"
 msgstr "cloud-init 种子从 CD-ROM 读取：请选择其总线"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:784
+#: instances/jobs.py:791
 msgid "The cloud-init seed needs a directory storage pool for the disk"
 msgstr "cloud-init 种子需要为磁盘使用目录类型的存储池"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:790
+#: instances/jobs.py:797
 #, python-format
 msgid "This host offers no firmware %(firmware)s"
 msgstr "此主机不提供固件 %(firmware)s"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:792 vrtManager/instance.py:3023
+#: instances/jobs.py:799 vrtManager/instance.py:3023
 msgid "This host offers no TPM 2.0: install swtpm on it"
 msgstr "此主机不提供 TPM 2.0：请在主机上安装 swtpm"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:853
+#: instances/jobs.py:860
 msgid "Writing the cloud-init seed"
 msgstr "正在写入 cloud-init 种子"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:860
+#: instances/jobs.py:867
 msgid "Defining the VM"
 msgstr "正在定义虚拟机"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:893
+#: instances/jobs.py:900
 #, python-format
 msgid "%(error)s. Remove these volumes by hand: %(volumes)s"
 msgstr "%(error)s。请手动删除这些卷：%(volumes)s"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:918
+#: instances/jobs.py:925
 #, python-format
 msgid "The instance is already on %(compute)s"
 msgstr "虚拟机已在 %(compute)s 上"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:920
+#: instances/jobs.py:927
 #, python-format
 msgid "%(compute)s is not reachable"
 msgstr "无法连接 %(compute)s"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:922
+#: instances/jobs.py:929
 #, python-format
 msgid "%(compute)s is the VM's own host under another name"
 msgstr "%(compute)s 是该虚拟机所在主机的另一个名称"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:940
+#: instances/jobs.py:947
 msgid "Migrate VM"
 msgstr "迁移虚拟机"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:984
+#: instances/jobs.py:991
 msgid "Migrating the VM"
 msgstr "正在迁移虚拟机"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1031
+#: instances/jobs.py:1038
 msgid "libvirt is still migrating the VM"
 msgstr "libvirt 仍在迁移虚拟机"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1038
+#: instances/jobs.py:1045
 msgid "The VM stayed on the source host"
 msgstr "虚拟机留在了源主机上"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1040
+#: instances/jobs.py:1047
 msgid ""
 "The VM is on both computes or on neither; check them, then resolve this job."
 msgstr "虚拟机同时位于两个计算节点上，或都不在；请检查后处理此任务。"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1088
+#: instances/jobs.py:1095
 msgid "Move disk"
 msgstr "移动磁盘"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1095
+#: instances/jobs.py:1102
 msgid "Choose a disk of the VM"
 msgstr "请选择虚拟机的一个磁盘"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1119
+#: instances/jobs.py:1126
 msgid "Copying the disk"
 msgstr "正在复制磁盘"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1162
+#: instances/jobs.py:1169
 #, python-format
 msgid "Another block job runs on %(dev)s; check the VM"
 msgstr "%(dev)s 上正在运行另一个块任务；请检查虚拟机"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1168
+#: instances/jobs.py:1175
 #, python-format
 msgid "The disk stayed in %(path)s; remove %(dest)s if it is there"
 msgstr "磁盘仍在 %(path)s；如果 %(dest)s 存在，请将其删除"
 
-#: instances/jobs.py:1170
+#: instances/jobs.py:1177
 #, python-format
 msgid "The definitions of %(dev)s name %(paths)s; check the VM"
 msgstr "%(dev)s 的定义指向 %(paths)s；请检查虚拟机"