diff --git a/nodepool/builder.py b/nodepool/builder.py
index 2ffcb1d49..69138c58e 100755
--- a/nodepool/builder.py
+++ b/nodepool/builder.py
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ class CleanupWorker(BaseWorker):
             # (since this should be done regardless of the build
             # state).
             for provider in known_providers:
-                if not provider.driver.manage_images:
+                if not provider.manage_images:
                     # This provider doesn't manage images
                     continue
                 try:
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ class CleanupWorker(BaseWorker):
                     continue
 
             for provider in known_providers:
-                if not provider.driver.manage_images:
+                if not provider.manage_images:
                     # This provider doesn't manage images
                     continue
                 try:
@@ -975,7 +975,7 @@ class UploadWorker(BaseWorker):
         to providers, do the upload if they are available on the local disk.
         '''
         for provider in self._config.providers.values():
-            if not provider.driver.manage_images:
+            if not provider.manage_images:
                 continue
             for image in provider.diskimages.values():
                 uploaded = False
diff --git a/nodepool/driver/__init__.py b/nodepool/driver/__init__.py
index bb3b7f922..79c581058 100644
--- a/nodepool/driver/__init__.py
+++ b/nodepool/driver/__init__.py
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ class NodeRequestHandler(object, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
 
         :returns: True if it is available, False otherwise.
         '''
-        if self.provider.driver.manage_images:
+        if self.provider.manage_images:
             for label in self.request.node_types:
                 if self.pool.labels[label].cloud_image:
                     if not self.manager.labelReady(self.pool.labels[label]):
@@ -715,7 +715,6 @@ class ProviderConfig(ConfigValue, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         self.driver = Driver()
         self.driver.name = provider.get('driver', 'openstack')
         self.max_concurrency = provider.get('max-concurrency', -1)
-        self.driver.manage_images = False
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return "<Provider %s>" % self.name
@@ -728,6 +727,14 @@ class ProviderConfig(ConfigValue, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         '''
         pass
 
+    @property
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def manage_images(self):
+        '''
+        Return True if provider manages external images, False otherwise.
+        '''
+        pass
+
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def __eq__(self, other):
         pass
diff --git a/nodepool/driver/openstack/config.py b/nodepool/driver/openstack/config.py
index e8c927f00..20e55d74d 100644
--- a/nodepool/driver/openstack/config.py
+++ b/nodepool/driver/openstack/config.py
@@ -107,6 +107,10 @@ class OpenStackProviderConfig(ProviderConfig):
     def pools(self):
         return self.__pools
 
+    @property
+    def manage_images(self):
+        return True
+
     @staticmethod
     def reset():
         OpenStackProviderConfig.os_client_config = None
@@ -119,7 +123,6 @@ class OpenStackProviderConfig(ProviderConfig):
         self.cloud_config = self.os_client_config.get_one_cloud(**cloud_kwargs)
 
         self.image_type = self.cloud_config.config['image_format']
-        self.driver.manage_images = True
         self.region_name = self.provider.get('region-name')
         self.rate = float(self.provider.get('rate', 1.0))
         self.boot_timeout = self.provider.get('boot-timeout', 60)
diff --git a/nodepool/driver/static/config.py b/nodepool/driver/static/config.py
index f4e527a37..ca6463f4a 100644
--- a/nodepool/driver/static/config.py
+++ b/nodepool/driver/static/config.py
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ class StaticProviderConfig(ProviderConfig):
     def pools(self):
         return self.__pools
 
+    @property
+    def manage_images(self):
+        return False
+
     def load(self, config):
         for pool in self.provider.get('pools', []):
             pp = StaticPool()
diff --git a/nodepool/launcher.py b/nodepool/launcher.py
index 4d4bc6455..048ffba41 100755
--- a/nodepool/launcher.py
+++ b/nodepool/launcher.py
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ class NodePool(threading.Thread):
             ready in at least one provider. False otherwise.
         '''
         for pool in label.pools:
-            if not pool.provider.driver.manage_images:
+            if not pool.provider.manage_images:
                 # Provider doesn't manage images, assuming label is ready
                 return True
             for pool_label in pool.labels.values():
diff --git a/nodepool/tests/fixtures/drivers/test/config.py b/nodepool/tests/fixtures/drivers/test/config.py
index a67ca1b94..f9651a494 100644
--- a/nodepool/tests/fixtures/drivers/test/config.py
+++ b/nodepool/tests/fixtures/drivers/test/config.py
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ class TestConfig(ProviderConfig):
     def pools(self):
         return self.__pools
 
+    @property
+    def manage_images(self):
+        return False
+
     def load(self, newconfig):
         self.labels = set()
         for pool in self.provider.get('pools', []):