diff --git a/octodns/provider/plan.py b/octodns/provider/plan.py
index 10ab167..47a4157 100644
--- a/octodns/provider/plan.py
+++ b/octodns/provider/plan.py
@@ -124,6 +124,12 @@ class PlanLogger(_PlanOutput):
                 buf.write(' (')
                 buf.write(target)
                 buf.write(')\n*   ')
+
+                if plan.exists is False:
+                    buf.write('Create ')
+                    buf.write(str(plan.desired))
+                    buf.write('\n*   ')
+
                 for change in plan.changes:
                     buf.write(change.__repr__(leader='* '))
                     buf.write('\n*   ')
@@ -169,6 +175,11 @@ class PlanMarkdown(_PlanOutput):
                 fh.write('| Operation | Name | Type | TTL | Value | Source |\n'
                          '|--|--|--|--|--|--|\n')
 
+                if plan.exists is False:
+                    fh.write('| Create | ')
+                    fh.write(str(plan.desired))
+                    fh.write(' | | | | |\n')
+
                 for change in plan.changes:
                     existing = change.existing
                     new = change.new
@@ -194,7 +205,8 @@ class PlanMarkdown(_PlanOutput):
                         fh.write(' | ')
                         fh.write(_value_stringifier(new, '; '))
                         fh.write(' | ')
-                        fh.write(new.source.id)
+                        if new.source:
+                            fh.write(new.source.id)
                         fh.write(' |\n')
 
                 fh.write('\nSummary: ')
@@ -230,6 +242,11 @@ class PlanHtml(_PlanOutput):
   </tr>
 ''')
 
+                if plan.exists is False:
+                    fh.write('  <tr>\n    <td>Create</td>\n    <td colspan=5>')
+                    fh.write(str(plan.desired))
+                    fh.write('</td>\n  </tr>\n')
+
                 for change in plan.changes:
                     existing = change.existing
                     new = change.new
@@ -257,7 +274,8 @@ class PlanHtml(_PlanOutput):
                         fh.write('</td>\n    <td>')
                         fh.write(_value_stringifier(new, '<br/>'))
                         fh.write('</td>\n    <td>')
-                        fh.write(new.source.id)
+                        if new.source:
+                            fh.write(new.source.id)
                         fh.write('</td>\n  </tr>\n')
 
                 fh.write('  <tr>\n    <td colspan=6>Summary: ')
diff --git a/octodns/provider/route53.py b/octodns/provider/route53.py
index 5bda074..9de1b0c 100644
--- a/octodns/provider/route53.py
+++ b/octodns/provider/route53.py
@@ -451,9 +451,11 @@ class Route53Provider(BaseProvider):
                        target, lenient)
 
         before = len(zone.records)
+        exists = False
 
         zone_id = self._get_zone_id(zone.name)
         if zone_id:
+            exists = True
             records = defaultdict(lambda: defaultdict(list))
             for rrset in self._load_records(zone_id):
                 record_name = zone.hostname_from_fqdn(rrset['Name'])
@@ -483,8 +485,9 @@ class Route53Provider(BaseProvider):
                                         lenient=lenient)
                     zone.add_record(record)
 
-        self.log.info('populate:   found %s records',
-                      len(zone.records) - before)
+        self.log.info('populate:   found %s records, exists=%s',
+                      len(zone.records) - before, exists)
+        return exists
 
     def _gen_mods(self, action, records):
         '''
diff --git a/tests/test_octodns_provider_route53.py b/tests/test_octodns_provider_route53.py
index 1cd4548..8da7f2e 100644
--- a/tests/test_octodns_provider_route53.py
+++ b/tests/test_octodns_provider_route53.py
@@ -361,6 +361,7 @@ class TestRoute53Provider(TestCase):
 
         plan = provider.plan(self.expected)
         self.assertEquals(9, len(plan.changes))
+        self.assertTrue(plan.exists)
         for change in plan.changes:
             self.assertIsInstance(change, Create)
         stubber.assert_no_pending_responses()
@@ -593,6 +594,7 @@ class TestRoute53Provider(TestCase):
 
         plan = provider.plan(self.expected)
         self.assertEquals(9, len(plan.changes))
+        self.assertFalse(plan.exists)
         for change in plan.changes:
             self.assertIsInstance(change, Create)
         stubber.assert_no_pending_responses()