diff --git a/lib/vmpooler/pool_manager.rb b/lib/vmpooler/pool_manager.rb
index 8901c05f1..ede2bb83f 100644
--- a/lib/vmpooler/pool_manager.rb
+++ b/lib/vmpooler/pool_manager.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 module Vmpooler
   class PoolManager
+    CHECK_LOOP_DELAY_MIN_DEFAULT = 5
+    CHECK_LOOP_DELAY_MAX_DEFAULT = 60
+    CHECK_LOOP_DELAY_DECAY_DEFAULT = 2.0
+
     def initialize(config, logger, redis, metrics)
       $config = config
 
@@ -523,17 +527,36 @@ def migrate_vm_and_record_timing(vm_name, pool_name, source_host_name, dest_host
       finish
     end
 
-    def check_pool(pool, maxloop = 0, loop_delay = 5)
+    def check_pool(pool,
+                   maxloop = 0,
+                   loop_delay_min = CHECK_LOOP_DELAY_MIN_DEFAULT,
+                   loop_delay_max = CHECK_LOOP_DELAY_MAX_DEFAULT,
+                   loop_delay_decay = CHECK_LOOP_DELAY_DECAY_DEFAULT)
       $logger.log('d', "[*] [#{pool['name']}] starting worker thread")
 
+      # Use the pool setings if they exist
+      loop_delay_min = pool['check_loop_delay_min'] unless pool['check_loop_delay_min'].nil?
+      loop_delay_max = pool['check_loop_delay_max'] unless pool['check_loop_delay_max'].nil?
+      loop_delay_decay = pool['check_loop_delay_decay'] unless pool['check_loop_delay_decay'].nil?
+
+      loop_delay_decay = 2.0 if loop_delay_decay <= 1.0
+      loop_delay_max = loop_delay_min if loop_delay_max.nil? || loop_delay_max < loop_delay_min
+
       $threads[pool['name']] = Thread.new do
         begin
           loop_count = 1
+          loop_delay = loop_delay_min
           provider = get_provider_for_pool(pool['name'])
           raise("Could not find provider '#{pool['provider']}") if provider.nil?
           loop do
-            _check_pool(pool, provider)
+            result = _check_pool(pool, provider)
 
+            if result[:cloned_vms] > 0 || result[:checked_pending_vms] > 0 || result[:discovered_vms] > 0
+              loop_delay = loop_delay_min
+            else
+              loop_delay = (loop_delay * loop_delay_decay).to_i
+              loop_delay = loop_delay_max if loop_delay > loop_delay_max
+            end
             sleep(loop_delay)
 
             unless maxloop.zero?
@@ -549,6 +572,15 @@ def check_pool(pool, maxloop = 0, loop_delay = 5)
     end
 
     def _check_pool(pool, provider)
+      pool_check_response = {
+        discovered_vms: 0,
+        checked_running_vms: 0,
+        checked_ready_vms: 0,
+        checked_pending_vms: 0,
+        destroyed_vms: 0,
+        migrated_vms: 0,
+        cloned_vms: 0
+      }
       # INVENTORY
       inventory = {}
       begin
@@ -561,6 +593,7 @@ def _check_pool(pool, provider)
             (! $redis.sismember('vmpooler__discovered__' + pool['name'], vm['name'])) &&
             (! $redis.sismember('vmpooler__migrating__' + pool['name'], vm['name']))
 
+            pool_check_response[:discovered_vms] += 1
             $redis.sadd('vmpooler__discovered__' + pool['name'], vm['name'])
 
             $logger.log('s', "[?] [#{pool['name']}] '#{vm['name']}' added to 'discovered' queue")
@@ -577,6 +610,7 @@ def _check_pool(pool, provider)
         if inventory[vm]
           begin
             vm_lifetime = $redis.hget('vmpooler__vm__' + vm, 'lifetime') || $config[:config]['vm_lifetime'] || 12
+            pool_check_response[:checked_running_vms] += 1
             check_running_vm(vm, pool['name'], vm_lifetime, provider)
           rescue => err
             $logger.log('d', "[!] [#{pool['name']}] _check_pool with an error while evaluating running VMs: #{err}")
@@ -588,6 +622,7 @@ def _check_pool(pool, provider)
       $redis.smembers("vmpooler__ready__#{pool['name']}").each do |vm|
         if inventory[vm]
           begin
+            pool_check_response[:checked_ready_vms] += 1
             check_ready_vm(vm, pool['name'], pool['ready_ttl'] || 0, provider)
           rescue => err
             $logger.log('d', "[!] [#{pool['name']}] _check_pool failed with an error while evaluating ready VMs: #{err}")
@@ -600,6 +635,7 @@ def _check_pool(pool, provider)
         pool_timeout = pool['timeout'] || $config[:config]['timeout'] || 15
         if inventory[vm]
           begin
+            pool_check_response[:checked_pending_vms] += 1
             check_pending_vm(vm, pool['name'], pool_timeout, provider)
           rescue => err
             $logger.log('d', "[!] [#{pool['name']}] _check_pool failed with an error while evaluating pending VMs: #{err}")
@@ -613,6 +649,7 @@ def _check_pool(pool, provider)
       $redis.smembers("vmpooler__completed__#{pool['name']}").each do |vm|
         if inventory[vm]
           begin
+            pool_check_response[:destroyed_vms] += 1
             destroy_vm(vm, pool['name'], provider)
           rescue => err
             $redis.srem("vmpooler__completed__#{pool['name']}", vm)
@@ -650,6 +687,7 @@ def _check_pool(pool, provider)
       $redis.smembers("vmpooler__migrating__#{pool['name']}").each do |vm|
         if inventory[vm]
           begin
+            pool_check_response[:migrated_vms] += 1
             migrate_vm(vm, pool['name'], provider)
           rescue => err
             $logger.log('s', "[x] [#{pool['name']}] '#{vm}' failed to migrate: #{err}")
@@ -680,6 +718,7 @@ def _check_pool(pool, provider)
           if $redis.get('vmpooler__tasks__clone').to_i < $config[:config]['task_limit'].to_i
             begin
               $redis.incr('vmpooler__tasks__clone')
+              pool_check_response[:cloned_vms] += 1
               clone_vm(pool, provider)
             rescue => err
               $logger.log('s', "[!] [#{pool['name']}] clone failed during check_pool with an error: #{err}")
@@ -689,6 +728,8 @@ def _check_pool(pool, provider)
           end
         end
       end
+
+      pool_check_response
     rescue => err
       $logger.log('d', "[!] [#{pool['name']}] _check_pool failed with an error: #{err}")
       raise
@@ -734,6 +775,12 @@ def execute!(maxloop = 0, loop_delay = 1)
         end
       end
 
+      # Get pool loop settings
+      $config[:config] = {} if $config[:config].nil?
+      check_loop_delay_min = $config[:config]['check_loop_delay_min'] || CHECK_LOOP_DELAY_MIN_DEFAULT
+      check_loop_delay_max = $config[:config]['check_loop_delay_max'] || CHECK_LOOP_DELAY_MAX_DEFAULT
+      check_loop_delay_decay = $config[:config]['check_loop_delay_decay'] || CHECK_LOOP_DELAY_DECAY_DEFAULT
+
       # Create the providers
       $config[:pools].each do |pool|
         provider_name = pool['provider']
@@ -786,7 +833,7 @@ def execute!(maxloop = 0, loop_delay = 1)
             check_pool(pool)
           elsif ! $threads[pool['name']].alive?
             $logger.log('d', "[!] [#{pool['name']}] worker thread died, restarting")
-            check_pool(pool)
+            check_pool(pool, check_loop_delay_min, check_loop_delay_max, check_loop_delay_decay)
           end
         end
 
diff --git a/spec/unit/pool_manager_spec.rb b/spec/unit/pool_manager_spec.rb
index f642f6ae3..b9ee982ea 100644
--- a/spec/unit/pool_manager_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/pool_manager_spec.rb
@@ -1912,18 +1912,61 @@
     end
 
     context 'with dead pool thread' do
-      let(:pool_thread) { double('thread', :alive? => false) }
-      before(:each) do
-        # Reset the global variable - Note this is a code smell
-        $threads = {}
-        $threads[pool] = pool_thread
+      context 'without check_loop_delay_xxx settings' do
+        let(:pool_thread) { double('thread', :alive? => false) }
+        let(:default_check_loop_delay_min) { 5 }
+        let(:default_check_loop_delay_max) { nil }
+        let(:default_check_loop_delay_decay) { 2.0 }
+        before(:each) do
+          # Reset the global variable - Note this is a code smell
+          $threads = {}
+          $threads[pool] = pool_thread
+        end
+
+        it 'should run the check_pool method and log a message' do
+          expect(subject).to receive(:check_pool).with(a_pool_with_name_of(pool),
+                                                       default_check_loop_delay_min,
+                                                       default_check_loop_delay_max,
+                                                       default_check_loop_delay_decay)
+          expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('d', "[!] [#{pool}] worker thread died, restarting")
+
+          subject.execute!(1,0)
+        end
       end
 
-      it 'should run the check_pool method and log a message' do
-        expect(subject).to receive(:check_pool).with(a_pool_with_name_of(pool))
-        expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('d', "[!] [#{pool}] worker thread died, restarting")
+      context 'with check_loop_delay_xxx settings' do
+        let(:pool_thread) { double('thread', :alive? => false) }
+        let(:check_loop_delay_min) { 7 }
+        let(:check_loop_delay_max) { 20 }
+        let(:check_loop_delay_decay) { 2.1 }
 
-        subject.execute!(1,0)
+        let(:config) {
+      YAML.load(<<-EOT
+---
+:config:
+  check_loop_delay_min: #{check_loop_delay_min}
+  check_loop_delay_max: #{check_loop_delay_max}
+  check_loop_delay_decay: #{check_loop_delay_decay}
+:pools:
+  - name: #{pool}
+EOT
+          )
+        }
+        before(:each) do
+          # Reset the global variable - Note this is a code smell
+          $threads = {}
+          $threads[pool] = pool_thread
+        end
+
+        it 'should run the check_pool method and log a message' do
+          expect(subject).to receive(:check_pool).with(a_pool_with_name_of(pool),
+                                                       check_loop_delay_min,
+                                                       check_loop_delay_max,
+                                                       check_loop_delay_decay)
+          expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('d', "[!] [#{pool}] worker thread died, restarting")
+
+          subject.execute!(1,0)
+        end
       end
     end
 
@@ -1995,6 +2038,15 @@
     }
 
     let(:pool_object) { config[:pools][0] }
+    let(:check_pool_response) {{
+        :discovered_vms      => 0,
+        :checked_running_vms => 0,
+        :checked_ready_vms   => 0,
+        :checked_pending_vms => 0,
+        :destroyed_vms       => 0,
+        :migrated_vms        => 0,
+        :cloned_vms          => 0,
+    }}
 
     before do
       expect(subject).not_to be_nil
@@ -2004,7 +2056,7 @@
 
     context 'on startup' do
       before(:each) do
-        allow(subject).to receive(:_check_pool)
+        allow(subject).to receive(:_check_pool).and_return(check_pool_response)
         expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('d', "[*] [#{pool}] starting worker thread")
       end
 
@@ -2032,8 +2084,7 @@
 
       before(:each) do
         allow(logger).to receive(:log)
-        # Note the Vmpooler::VsphereHelper is not mocked
-        allow(subject).to receive(:_check_pool)
+        allow(subject).to receive(:_check_pool).and_return(check_pool_response)
       end
 
       after(:each) do
@@ -2048,13 +2099,145 @@
       end
     end
 
+    context 'delays between loops configured in the pool configuration' do
+      let(:maxloop) { 2 }
+      let(:loop_delay) { 1 }
+      let(:pool_loop_delay) { 2 }
+      let(:config) {
+        YAML.load(<<-EOT
+---
+:pools:
+  - name: #{pool}
+    provider: #{provider_name}
+    check_loop_delay_min: #{pool_loop_delay}
+EOT
+        )
+      }
+
+      before(:each) do
+        allow(logger).to receive(:log)
+        allow(subject).to receive(:_check_pool).and_return(check_pool_response)
+      end
+
+      after(:each) do
+        # Reset the global variable - Note this is a code smell
+        $threads = nil
+      end
+
+      it 'when a non-default loop delay is specified' do
+        expect(subject).to receive(:sleep).with(pool_loop_delay).exactly(maxloop).times
+
+        subject.check_pool(pool_object,maxloop,loop_delay)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'delays between loops with a specified min and max value' do
+      let(:maxloop) { 5 }
+      let(:loop_delay_min) { 1 }
+      let(:loop_delay_max) { 60 }
+      # Note a maxloop of zero can not be tested as it never terminates
+
+      before(:each) do
+        allow(logger).to receive(:log)
+        allow(subject).to receive(:_check_pool).and_return(check_pool_response)
+      end
+
+      after(:each) do
+        # Reset the global variable - Note this is a code smell
+        $threads = nil
+      end
+
+      [:checked_pending_vms, :discovered_vms, :cloned_vms].each do |testcase|
+        describe "when #{testcase} is greater than zero" do
+          it "delays the minimum delay time" do
+            expect(subject).to receive(:sleep).with(loop_delay_min).exactly(maxloop).times
+            check_pool_response[testcase] = 1
+
+            subject.check_pool(pool_object,maxloop,loop_delay_min,loop_delay_max)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+
+      [:checked_running_vms, :checked_ready_vms, :destroyed_vms, :migrated_vms].each do |testcase|
+        describe "when #{testcase} is greater than zero" do
+          let(:loop_decay) { 3.0 }
+          it "delays increases with a decay" do
+            expect(subject).to receive(:sleep).with(3).once
+            expect(subject).to receive(:sleep).with(9).once
+            expect(subject).to receive(:sleep).with(27).once
+            expect(subject).to receive(:sleep).with(60).twice
+            check_pool_response[testcase] = 1
+
+            subject.check_pool(pool_object,maxloop,loop_delay_min,loop_delay_max,loop_decay)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'delays between loops with a specified min and max value configured in the pool configuration' do
+      let(:maxloop) { 5 }
+      let(:loop_delay_min) { 1 }
+      let(:loop_delay_max) { 60 }
+      let(:loop_decay) { 3.0 }
+      let(:pool_loop_delay_min) { 3 }
+      let(:pool_loop_delay_max) { 70 }
+      let(:pool_loop_delay_decay) { 2.5 }
+      let(:config) {
+        YAML.load(<<-EOT
+---
+:pools:
+  - name: #{pool}
+    provider: #{provider_name}
+    check_loop_delay_min: #{pool_loop_delay_min}
+    check_loop_delay_max: #{pool_loop_delay_max}
+    check_loop_delay_decay: #{pool_loop_delay_decay}
+EOT
+        )
+      }
+
+      before(:each) do
+        allow(logger).to receive(:log)
+        allow(subject).to receive(:_check_pool).and_return(check_pool_response)
+      end
+
+      after(:each) do
+        # Reset the global variable - Note this is a code smell
+        $threads = nil
+      end
+
+      [:checked_pending_vms, :discovered_vms, :cloned_vms].each do |testcase|
+        describe "when #{testcase} is greater than zero" do
+          it "delays the minimum delay time" do
+            expect(subject).to receive(:sleep).with(pool_loop_delay_min).exactly(maxloop).times
+            check_pool_response[testcase] = 1
+
+            subject.check_pool(pool_object,maxloop,loop_delay_min,loop_delay_max,loop_decay)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+
+      [:checked_running_vms, :checked_ready_vms, :destroyed_vms, :migrated_vms].each do |testcase|
+        describe "when #{testcase} is greater than zero" do
+          it "delays increases with a decay" do
+            expect(subject).to receive(:sleep).with(7).once
+            expect(subject).to receive(:sleep).with(17).once
+            expect(subject).to receive(:sleep).with(42).once
+            expect(subject).to receive(:sleep).with(70).twice
+            check_pool_response[testcase] = 1
+
+            subject.check_pool(pool_object,maxloop,loop_delay_min,loop_delay_max,loop_decay)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+
     context 'loops specified number of times (5)' do
       let(:maxloop) { 5 }
       # Note a maxloop of zero can not be tested as it never terminates
       before(:each) do
         allow(logger).to receive(:log)
-        # Note the Vmpooler::VsphereHelper is not mocked
-        allow(subject).to receive(:_check_pool)
+        allow(subject).to receive(:_check_pool).and_return(check_pool_response)
       end
 
       after(:each) do
@@ -2200,6 +2383,12 @@
         subject._check_pool(pool_object,provider)
       end
 
+      it 'should return the number of discoverd of VMs' do
+        result = subject._check_pool(pool_object,provider)
+
+        expect(result[:discovered_vms]).to be(1)
+      end
+
       it 'should add undiscovered VMs to the completed queue' do
         allow(logger).to receive(:log).with('s', "[?] [#{pool}] '#{new_vm}' added to 'discovered' queue")
 
@@ -2259,6 +2448,12 @@
         subject._check_pool(pool_object,provider)
       end
 
+      it 'should return the number of checked running VMs' do
+        result = subject._check_pool(pool_object,provider)
+
+        expect(result[:checked_running_vms]).to be(1)
+      end
+
       it 'should use the VM lifetime in preference to defaults' do
         big_lifetime = 2000
 
@@ -2305,6 +2500,12 @@
         create_ready_vm(pool,vm,token)
       end
 
+      it 'should return the number of checked ready VMs' do
+        result = subject._check_pool(pool_object,provider)
+
+        expect(result[:checked_ready_vms]).to be(1)
+      end
+
       it 'should log an error if one occurs' do
         expect(subject).to receive(:check_ready_vm).and_raise(RuntimeError,'MockError')
         expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('d', "[!] [#{pool}] _check_pool failed with an error while evaluating ready VMs: MockError")
@@ -2351,6 +2552,12 @@
         create_pending_vm(pool,vm,token)
       end
 
+      it 'should return the number of checked pending VMs' do
+        result = subject._check_pool(pool_object,provider)
+
+        expect(result[:checked_pending_vms]).to be(1)
+      end
+
       it 'should log an error if one occurs' do
         expect(subject).to receive(:check_pending_vm).and_raise(RuntimeError,'MockError')
         expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('d', "[!] [#{pool}] _check_pool failed with an error while evaluating pending VMs: MockError")
@@ -2427,6 +2634,12 @@
         subject._check_pool(pool_object,provider)
       end
 
+      it 'should return the number of destroyed VMs' do
+        result = subject._check_pool(pool_object,provider)
+
+        expect(result[:destroyed_vms]).to be(1)
+      end
+
       context 'with an error during destroy_vm' do
         before(:each) do
           expect(subject).to receive(:destroy_vm).and_raise(RuntimeError,"MockError")
@@ -2533,6 +2746,13 @@
         create_migrating_vm(vm,pool)
       end
 
+      it 'should return the number of migrated VMs' do
+        allow(subject).to receive(:migrate_vm).with(vm,pool,provider)
+        result = subject._check_pool(pool_object,provider)
+
+        expect(result[:migrated_vms]).to be(1)
+      end
+
       it 'should log an error if one occurs' do
         expect(subject).to receive(:migrate_vm).and_raise(RuntimeError,'MockError')
         expect(logger).to receive(:log).with('s', "[x] [#{pool}] '#{vm}' failed to migrate: MockError")
@@ -2618,7 +2838,16 @@
 
       context 'when number of VMs is less than the pool size' do
         before(:each) do
-        expect(provider).to receive(:vms_in_pool).with(pool).and_return([])
+          expect(provider).to receive(:vms_in_pool).with(pool).and_return([])
+        end
+
+        it 'should return the number of cloned VMs' do
+          pool_size = 5
+          config[:pools][0]['size'] = pool_size
+
+          result = subject._check_pool(pool_object,provider)
+
+          expect(result[:cloned_vms]).to be(pool_size)
         end
 
         it 'should call clone_vm to populate the pool' do
diff --git a/vmpooler.yaml.example b/vmpooler.yaml.example
index 6b0d4c616..fab1b3545 100644
--- a/vmpooler.yaml.example
+++ b/vmpooler.yaml.example
@@ -395,6 +395,27 @@
 #     This is particularly useful for instances with a large number of pools
 #     to prevent a thundering herd when retrying connections.
 #     (optional; default: 10)
+#
+#   - check_loop_delay_min (optional; default: 5) seconds
+#   - check_loop_delay_max (optional; default: 60) seconds
+#   - check_loop_delay_decay (optional; default: 2.0) Must be greater than 1.0
+#     Each pool is polled on a schedule to check whether there are any tasks to perform, for example, provision
+#     new VMs to fill a pool, or destroy VMs which are no longer required. By default this value is every 5 seconds.
+#     However, with a large number of pools, this can cause the provider to be issuing many, many requests which
+#     can cause performance problems, for example, vSphere recommends no more than 100 active connections per vCenter
+#     instance. But if you increase the check interval to a large number, then vmpooler will appear to be slow to
+#     perform tasks.  These settings can be used to tune how often the provider is polling for changes to a pool.
+#     This is done by increasing the polling period when the pool is stable or when unimportant tasks are being
+#     performed.  The polling period is decreased back to the minimum when important tasks happen (newly discovered VMs,
+#     creating new VMs and checking for VMs that have completed cloning but not ready).  This means the pools are
+#     checked appropriately during important events, but as the pool stabilizes it does not need to be checked as often.
+#       - The check_loop_delay_min setting determines the smallest period of time between polls, in seconds.
+#       - The check_loop_delay_max setting determines the longest period of time between polls, in seconds.
+#         Must be greater than or equal to check_loop_delay_min or it will be set to check_loop_delay_min.
+#       - The check_loop_delay_decay setting determines how quickly the delay moves from minimum to maximum. So a value
+#         of 2.0 means each time the pool is checked and nothing important happens, the loop delay is multiplied by 2.0,
+#         for example, the first time is 2 seconds, then 4, 8, 16 etc. until it reaches check_loop_delay_max.
+#         This value must be greater than 1.0.
 
 # Example:
 
@@ -455,6 +476,11 @@
 #     How long (in minutes) to keep VMs in 'ready' queues before destroying.
 #     (optional; default: no limit)
 #
+#   - check_loop_delay_min (optional; default: 5) seconds
+#   - check_loop_delay_max (optional; default: same as check_loop_delay_min) seconds
+#   - check_loop_delay_decay (optional; default: 2.0) Must be greater than 1.0
+#     See the :config: section for information about these settings
+#
 #   Provider specific pool settings
 #     vSphere provider
 #     - folder