diff --git a/lib/display/display.c b/lib/display/display.c
index 3d18321d3..67d5495b0 100644
--- a/lib/display/display.c
+++ b/lib/display/display.c
@@ -207,16 +207,50 @@ void lvdisplay_colons(struct logical_volume *lv)
 		  /* FIXME lv->lv_number,  */
 		  inkernel ? info.open_count : 0, lv->size, lv->le_count,
 		  /* FIXME Add num allocated to struct! lv->lv_allocated_le, */
-		  ((lv->status & ALLOC_STRICT) +
-		   (lv->status & ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS) * 2), lv->read_ahead,
+		  ((lv->alloc == ALLOC_STRICT) +
+		   (lv->alloc == ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS) * 2), lv->read_ahead,
 		  inkernel ? info.major : -1, inkernel ? info.minor : -1);
 	return;
 }
 
+
+static struct {
+	alloc_policy_t alloc;
+	const char *str;
+} _policies[] = {
+	{ALLOC_NEXT_FREE, "next free"},
+	{ALLOC_STRICT, "strict"},
+	{ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS, "contiguous"}
+};
+
+static int _num_policies = sizeof(_policies) / sizeof(*_policies);
+
+const char *get_alloc_string(alloc_policy_t alloc)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < _num_policies; i++)
+		if (_policies[i].alloc == alloc)
+			return _policies[i].str;
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+alloc_policy_t get_alloc_from_string(const char *str)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < _num_policies; i++)
+		if (!strcmp(_policies[i].str, str))
+			return _policies[i].alloc;
+
+	log_warn("Unknown allocation policy, defaulting to next free");
+	return ALLOC_NEXT_FREE;
+}
+
 int lvdisplay_full(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct logical_volume *lv)
 {
 	char *size;
-	uint32_t alloc;
 	struct dm_info info;
 	int inkernel;
 	char uuid[64];
@@ -243,7 +277,7 @@ int lvdisplay_full(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct logical_volume *lv)
 		  lv->vg->name, lv->name);
 	log_print("VG Name                %s", lv->vg->name);
 
-/* Not in LVM1 format 
+/* Not in LVM1 format
 	log_print("LV UUID                %s", uuid);
 **/
 	log_print("LV Write Access        %s",
@@ -252,11 +286,11 @@ int lvdisplay_full(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct logical_volume *lv)
 	/* see if this LV is an origin for a snapshot */
 	if ((snap = find_origin(lv))) {
 		struct list *slh, *snaplist = find_snapshots(lv);
-		
+
 		log_print("LV snapshot status     source of");
 		list_iterate(slh, snaplist) {
 			snap = list_item(slh, struct snapshot_list)->snapshot;
-			snap_active = lv_snapshot_percent(snap->cow, 
+			snap_active = lv_snapshot_percent(snap->cow,
 							  &snap_percent);
 			log_print("                       %s%s/%s [%s]",
 				 lv->vg->cmd->dev_dir, lv->vg->name,
@@ -272,7 +306,7 @@ int lvdisplay_full(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct logical_volume *lv)
 	else if ((snap = find_cow(lv))) {
 		snap_active = lv_snapshot_percent(lv, &snap_percent);
 		log_print("LV snapshot status     %s destination for %s%s/%s",
-		 	  (snap_active > 0) ? "active" : "INACTIVE", 
+		 	  (snap_active > 0) ? "active" : "INACTIVE",
 			  lv->vg->cmd->dev_dir, lv->vg->name,
 			  snap->origin->name);
 	}
@@ -282,7 +316,7 @@ int lvdisplay_full(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct logical_volume *lv)
 		log_print("LV Status              suspended");
 	else
 		log_print("LV Status              %savailable",
-			  !inkernel || (snap && (snap_active < 1)) 
+			  !inkernel || (snap && (snap_active < 1))
 			    ?  "NOT " : "");
 
 /********* FIXME lv_number - not sure that we're going to bother with this
@@ -292,7 +326,7 @@ int lvdisplay_full(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct logical_volume *lv)
 /* LVM1 lists the number of LVs open in this field, therefore, so do we. */
 	log_print("# open                 %u", lvs_in_vg_opened(lv->vg));
 
-/* We're not going to use this count ATM, 'cause it's not what LVM1 does 
+/* We're not going to use this count ATM, 'cause it's not what LVM1 does
 	if (inkernel)
 		log_print("# open                 %u", info.open_count);
 */
@@ -312,18 +346,18 @@ int lvdisplay_full(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct logical_volume *lv)
 		origin = snap->origin;
 	else
 		origin = lv;
-	
+
 	size = display_size(origin->size / 2, SIZE_SHORT);
 	log_print("LV Size                %s", size);
 	dbg_free(size);
 
 	log_print("Current LE             %u", origin->le_count);
-	
+
 /********** FIXME allocation - is there anytime the allocated LEs will not
  * equal the current LEs? */
 	log_print("Allocated LE           %u", origin->le_count);
 /**********/
-	
+
 
 	list_iterate(lvseg, &lv->segments) {
 		seg = list_item(lvseg, struct stripe_segment);
@@ -349,7 +383,7 @@ int lvdisplay_full(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct logical_volume *lv)
 		sscanf(size, "%f", &fsize);
 		fused = fsize * ( snap_percent / 100 );
 		log_print("Allocated to snapshot  %2.2f%% [%2.2f/%s]",
-			  snap_percent, fused, size); 
+			  snap_percent, fused, size);
 		dbg_free(size);
 
 		/* FIXME: Think this'll make them wonder?? */
@@ -374,16 +408,7 @@ int lvdisplay_full(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct logical_volume *lv)
 #endif
 ***************/
 
-	/* FIXME next free == ALLOC_SIMPLE */
-	alloc = lv->status & (ALLOC_STRICT | ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS);
-	log_print("Allocation             %s%s%s%s",
-		  !(alloc & (ALLOC_STRICT | ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS)) ? "next free" :
-		  "", (alloc == ALLOC_STRICT) ? "strict" : "",
-		  (alloc == ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS) ? "contiguous" : "",
-		  (alloc ==
-		   (ALLOC_STRICT | ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS)) ? "strict/contiguous" :
-		  "");
-
+	log_print("Allocation             %s", get_alloc_string(lv->alloc));
 	log_print("Read ahead sectors     %u", lv->read_ahead);
 
 	if (lv->status & FIXED_MINOR)
@@ -499,7 +524,7 @@ void vgdisplay_full(struct volume_group *vg)
 			  vg->status & SHARED ? "yes" : "no");
 	}
 /****** FIXME VG # - we aren't implementing this because people should
- * use the UUID for this anyway 
+ * use the UUID for this anyway
 	log_print("VG #                  %u", vg->vg_number);
 *******/
 	log_print("MAX LV                %u", vg->max_lv);
diff --git a/lib/display/display.h b/lib/display/display.h
index b6d7ee755..871dbbaba 100644
--- a/lib/display/display.h
+++ b/lib/display/display.h
@@ -44,4 +44,15 @@ void vgdisplay_full(struct volume_group *vg);
 void vgdisplay_colons(struct volume_group *vg);
 void vgdisplay_short(struct volume_group *vg);
 
+/*
+ * Retrieve a text description of the allocation policy.  Only
+ * extern because it's used by lvscan.
+ */
+const char *get_alloc_string(alloc_policy_t alloc);
+
+/*
+ * FIXME: put this somewhere more sensible.
+ */
+alloc_policy_t get_alloc_from_string(const char *str);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/format1/import-export.c b/lib/format1/import-export.c
index f100f5058..08df47912 100644
--- a/lib/format1/import-export.c
+++ b/lib/format1/import-export.c
@@ -297,12 +297,12 @@ int import_lv(struct pool *mem, struct logical_volume *lv, struct lv_disk *lvd)
 		lv->status |= BADBLOCK_ON;
 
 	if (lvd->lv_allocation & LV_STRICT)
-		lv->status |= ALLOC_STRICT;
+		lv->alloc = ALLOC_STRICT;
 
 	if (lvd->lv_allocation & LV_CONTIGUOUS)
-		lv->status |= ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS;
+		lv->alloc = ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS;
 	else
-		lv->status |= ALLOC_SIMPLE;
+		lv->alloc |= ALLOC_NEXT_FREE;
 
 	lv->read_ahead = lvd->lv_read_ahead;
 	lv->size = lvd->lv_size;
@@ -350,10 +350,10 @@ void export_lv(struct lv_disk *lvd, struct volume_group *vg,
 	if (lv->status & BADBLOCK_ON)
 		lvd->lv_badblock = LV_BADBLOCK_ON;
 
-	if (lv->status & ALLOC_STRICT)
+	if (lv->alloc == ALLOC_STRICT)
 		lvd->lv_allocation |= LV_STRICT;
 
-	if (lv->status & ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS)
+	if (lv->alloc == ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS)
 		lvd->lv_allocation |= LV_CONTIGUOUS;
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/format_text/export.c b/lib/format_text/export.c
index ca08e09af..a95540686 100644
--- a/lib/format_text/export.c
+++ b/lib/format_text/export.c
@@ -11,15 +11,13 @@
 #include "pool.h"
 #include "dbg_malloc.h"
 #include "lvm-string.h"
+#include "display.h"
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include <time.h>
 
-/*
- * The first half of this file deals with
- * exporting the vg, ie. writing it to a file.
- */
+
 struct formatter {
 	struct pool *mem;	/* pv names allocated from here */
 	struct hash_table *pv_names;	/* dev_name -> pv_name (eg, pv1) */
@@ -360,12 +358,15 @@ static int _print_lvs(struct formatter *f, struct volume_group *vg)
 
 		_out(f, "id = \"%s\"", buffer);
 
-		if (!print_flags(lv->status, LV_FLAGS, buffer, sizeof(buffer))) {
+		if (!print_flags(lv->status, LV_FLAGS,
+				 buffer, sizeof(buffer))) {
 			stack;
 			return 0;
 		}
 
 		_out(f, "status = %s", buffer);
+		_out(f, "allocation_policy = \"%s\"",
+		     get_alloc_string(lv->alloc));
 		_out(f, "read_ahead = %u", lv->read_ahead);
 		if (lv->minor >= 0)
 			_out(f, "minor = %d", lv->minor);
diff --git a/lib/format_text/flags.c b/lib/format_text/flags.c
index da0e82e95..e42f4f445 100644
--- a/lib/format_text/flags.c
+++ b/lib/format_text/flags.c
@@ -38,9 +38,6 @@ static struct flag _pv_flags[] = {
 static struct flag _lv_flags[] = {
 	{LVM_READ, "READ"},
 	{LVM_WRITE, "WRITE"},
-	{ALLOC_SIMPLE, "ALLOC_SIMPLE"},
-	{ALLOC_STRICT, "ALLOC_STRICT"},
-	{ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS, "ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS"},
 	{FIXED_MINOR, "FIXED_MINOR"},
 	{0, NULL}
 };
diff --git a/lib/format_text/import.c b/lib/format_text/import.c
index cdd4b9a0a..4028d71e7 100644
--- a/lib/format_text/import.c
+++ b/lib/format_text/import.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "uuid.h"
 #include "hash.h"
 #include "toolcontext.h"
+#include "display.h"
 
 typedef int (*section_fn) (struct format_instance * fid, struct pool * mem,
 			   struct volume_group * vg, struct config_node * pvn,
@@ -438,6 +439,22 @@ static int _read_lv(struct format_instance *fid, struct pool *mem,
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * allocation_policy is optional since it is meaning less
+	 * for things like mirrors and snapshots.  Where it isn't
+	 * specified we default to the next free policy.
+	 */
+	lv->alloc = ALLOC_NEXT_FREE;
+	if ((cn = find_config_node(lvn, "allocation_policy", '/'))) {
+		struct config_value *cv = cn->v;
+		if (!cv || !cv->v.str) {
+			log_err("allocation_policy must be a string.");
+			return 0;
+		}
+
+		lv->alloc = get_alloc_from_string(cv->v.str);
+	}
+
 	if (!_read_int32(lvn, "read_ahead", &lv->read_ahead)) {
 		log_error("Couldn't read 'read_ahead' value for "
 			"logical volume.");
diff --git a/lib/metadata/lv_manip.c b/lib/metadata/lv_manip.c
index f04202cee..5a2136c66 100644
--- a/lib/metadata/lv_manip.c
+++ b/lib/metadata/lv_manip.c
@@ -302,10 +302,10 @@ static int _allocate(struct volume_group *vg, struct logical_volume *lv,
 	if (stripes > 1)
 		r = _alloc_striped(lv, pvms, allocated, stripes, stripe_size);
 
-	else if (lv->status & ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS)
+	else if (lv->alloc == ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS)
 		r = _alloc_contiguous(lv, pvms, allocated);
 
-	else if (lv->status & ALLOC_SIMPLE)
+	else if (lv->alloc == ALLOC_NEXT_FREE)
 		r = _alloc_simple(lv, pvms, allocated);
 
 	else {
@@ -362,6 +362,7 @@ static char *_generate_lv_name(struct volume_group *vg,
 struct logical_volume *lv_create(struct format_instance *fi,
 				 const char *name,
 				 uint32_t status,
+				 alloc_policy_t alloc,
 				 uint32_t stripes,
 				 uint32_t stripe_size,
 				 uint32_t extents,
@@ -422,6 +423,7 @@ struct logical_volume *lv_create(struct format_instance *fi,
 	}
 
 	lv->status = status;
+	lv->alloc = alloc;
 	lv->read_ahead = 0;
 	lv->minor = -1;
 	lv->size = (uint64_t) extents *vg->extent_size;
diff --git a/lib/metadata/metadata.h b/lib/metadata/metadata.h
index 2a8823a13..f4d25cfb5 100644
--- a/lib/metadata/metadata.h
+++ b/lib/metadata/metadata.h
@@ -46,17 +46,19 @@
 #define CLUSTERED         	0x00000400  /* VG */
 #define SHARED            	0x00000800  /* VG */
 
-/* FIXME: This should be an enum rather than a bitset,
-   remove from status - EJT */
-#define ALLOC_SIMPLE		0x00001000  /* LV */
-#define ALLOC_STRICT		0x00002000  /* LV */
-#define ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS	0x00004000  /* LV */
-
 #define FMT_SEGMENTS		0x00000001 /* Arbitrary segment parameters? */
 
 #define FMT_TEXT_NAME		"text"
 #define FMT_LVM1_NAME		"lvm1"
 
+
+typedef enum {
+	ALLOC_NEXT_FREE,
+	ALLOC_STRICT,
+	ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS
+
+} alloc_policy_t;
+
 struct physical_volume {
         struct id id;
 	struct device *dev;
@@ -147,6 +149,7 @@ struct logical_volume {
 	struct volume_group *vg;
 
         uint32_t status;
+	alloc_policy_t alloc;
 	uint32_t read_ahead;
 	int32_t minor;
 
@@ -320,6 +323,7 @@ int vg_extend(struct format_instance *fi,
 struct logical_volume *lv_create(struct format_instance *fi,
 				 const char *name,
 				 uint32_t status,
+				 alloc_policy_t alloc,
 				 uint32_t stripes,
 				 uint32_t stripe_size,
 				 uint32_t extents,
diff --git a/tools/lvchange.c b/tools/lvchange.c
index 8f9b50ca2..b477a3b10 100644
--- a/tools/lvchange.c
+++ b/tools/lvchange.c
@@ -212,39 +212,37 @@ static int lvchange_availability(struct cmd_context *cmd,
 static int lvchange_contiguous(struct cmd_context *cmd,
 			       struct logical_volume *lv)
 {
-	int lv_allocation = 0;
+	int want_contiguous = 0;
 
 	if (strcmp(arg_str_value(cmd, contiguous_ARG, "n"), "n"))
-		lv_allocation |= ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS;
+		want_contiguous = 1;
 
-	if ((lv_allocation & ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS) &&
-	    (lv->status & ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS)) {
+	if (want_contiguous && lv->alloc == ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS) {
 		log_error("Allocation policy of logical volume \"%s\" is "
 			  "already contiguous", lv->name);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (!(lv_allocation & ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS) &&
-	    !(lv->status & ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS)) {
+	if (!want_contiguous && lv->alloc != ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS) {
 		log_error
 		    ("Allocation policy of logical volume \"%s\" is already"
 		     " not contiguous", lv->name);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-/******** FIXME lv_check_contiguous? 
+/******** FIXME lv_check_contiguous?
 	if ((lv_allocation & ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS)
 		    && (ret = lv_check_contiguous(vg, lv_index + 1)) == FALSE) {
 			log_error("No contiguous logical volume \"%s\"", lv->name);
 			return 0;
 *********/
 
-	if (lv_allocation & ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS) {
-		lv->status |= ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS;
+	if (want_contiguous) {
+		lv->alloc = ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS;
 		log_verbose("Setting contiguous allocation policy for \"%s\"",
 			    lv->name);
 	} else {
-		lv->status &= ~ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS;
+		lv->alloc = ALLOC_NEXT_FREE;
 		log_verbose("Removing contiguous allocation policy for \"%s\"",
 			    lv->name);
 	}
@@ -279,7 +277,7 @@ static int lvchange_readahead(struct cmd_context *cmd,
 
 	read_ahead = arg_int_value(cmd, readahead_ARG, 0);
 
-/******* FIXME Ranges? 
+/******* FIXME Ranges?
 	if (read_ahead < LVM_MIN_READ_AHEAD || read_ahead > LVM_MAX_READ_AHEAD) {
 		log_error("read ahead sector argument is invalid");
 		return 0;
diff --git a/tools/lvcreate.c b/tools/lvcreate.c
index c05bd7936..08d7c6029 100644
--- a/tools/lvcreate.c
+++ b/tools/lvcreate.c
@@ -294,14 +294,13 @@ static int _lvcreate(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct lvcreate_params *lp)
 {
 	uint32_t size_rest;
 	uint32_t status = 0;
+	alloc_policy_t alloc = ALLOC_NEXT_FREE;
 	struct volume_group *vg;
 	struct logical_volume *lv, *org;
 	struct list *pvh;
 
 	if (lp->contiguous)
-		status |= ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS;
-	else
-		status |= ALLOC_SIMPLE;
+		alloc = ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS;
 
 	status |= lp->permission;
 
@@ -379,7 +378,7 @@ static int _lvcreate(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct lvcreate_params *lp)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (!(lv = lv_create(vg->fid, lp->lv_name, status,
+	if (!(lv = lv_create(vg->fid, lp->lv_name, status, alloc,
 			     lp->stripes, lp->stripe_size, lp->extents,
 			     vg, pvh))) return 0;
 
diff --git a/tools/lvscan.c b/tools/lvscan.c
index a571e6c45..044e2e6ba 100644
--- a/tools/lvscan.c
+++ b/tools/lvscan.c
@@ -86,10 +86,9 @@ static int lvscan_single(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct logical_volume *lv)
 ***********/
 	dummy = display_size(lv->size / 2, SIZE_SHORT);
 
-	log_print("%s%s '%s%s/%s' [%s]%s%s", active_str, snapshot_str,
+	log_print("%s%s '%s%s/%s' [%s]%s", active_str, snapshot_str,
 		  cmd->dev_dir, lv->vg->name, lv->name, dummy,
-		  (lv->status & ALLOC_STRICT) ? " strict" : "",
-		  (lv->status & ALLOC_CONTIGUOUS) ? " contiguous" : "");
+		  get_alloc_string(lv->alloc));
 
 	dbg_free(dummy);