diff --git a/generate/container.py b/generate/container.py
index 9b4bfa6..7d10a1e 100644
--- a/generate/container.py
+++ b/generate/container.py
@@ -63,12 +63,22 @@ class Volume:
             return None
         return [cls(key, value) for key, value in val.items()]
 
+    def is_host_volume(self) -> bool:
+        """Check if this Volume is a named or a host volume."""
+        return self.name.startswith("/") or self.name.startswith(".")
+
     def command(self) -> str:
         """Option for podman container create."""
         return f"--volume {self.name}:{self.path}"
 
     def create(self) -> str:
         """Create volume, if it does not exist."""
+        if self.is_host_volume():
+            # A HOST-DIR starting with a slash or dot is interpreted as a
+            # directory or file on the host machine. Since the script should
+            # not modify things outside its own tree, i.e.
+            # /var/lib/containerctl, ignore it.
+            return ""
         cmd = f"# Create volume {self.name}\n"
         cmd += f"if ! podman volume exists '{self.name}' 2> /dev/null\n"
         cmd += "then\n"
@@ -78,6 +88,9 @@ class Volume:
 
     def remove(self) -> str:
         """Remove volume if it exists."""
+        if self.is_host_volume():
+            # As with create, don't touch the host system
+            return ""
         cmd = f"# Remove volume {self.name}\n"
         cmd += f"if podman volume exists '{self.name}' 2> /dev/null\n"
         cmd += "then\n"