In one embodiment, a node coupled to one or more storage devices executes a storage input/output (I/O) stack having a volume layer, a persistence layer and an administration layer that interact to create a copy of a parent volume associated with a storage container on the one or more storage devices. A copy create start message is received at the persistence layer from the administration layer. The persistence layer ensures that dirty data for the parent volume is incorporated into the copy of the parent volume. New data for the parent volume received at the persistence layer during creation of the copy of the parent volume is prevented from incorporation into the copy of the parent volume. A reply to the copy create start message is sent from the persistence layer to the administration layer to initiate the creation of the copy of the parent volume at the volume layer.