diff --git a/octodns/provider/azuredns.py b/octodns/provider/azuredns.py
index 1757274..af23ef7 100644
--- a/octodns/provider/azuredns.py
+++ b/octodns/provider/azuredns.py
@@ -322,6 +322,8 @@ class AzureProvider(BaseProvider):
             :type return: void
         '''
         self.log.debug('populate: name=%s', zone.name)
+
+        exists = False
         before = len(zone.records)
 
         zone_name = zone.name[:len(zone.name) - 1]
@@ -331,6 +333,7 @@ class AzureProvider(BaseProvider):
         _records = set()
         records = self._dns_client.record_sets.list_by_dns_zone
         if self._check_zone(zone_name):
+            exists = True
             for azrecord in records(self._resource_group, zone_name):
                 if _parse_azure_type(azrecord.type) in self.SUPPORTS:
                     _records.add(azrecord)
@@ -344,7 +347,9 @@ class AzureProvider(BaseProvider):
                 record = Record.new(zone, record_name, data, source=self)
                 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 _data_for_A(self, azrecord):
         return {'values': [ar.ipv4_address for ar in azrecord.arecords]}
diff --git a/tests/test_octodns_provider_azuredns.py b/tests/test_octodns_provider_azuredns.py
index adf394b..9784945 100644
--- a/tests/test_octodns_provider_azuredns.py
+++ b/tests/test_octodns_provider_azuredns.py
@@ -302,7 +302,8 @@ class TestAzureDnsProvider(TestCase):
         record_list = provider._dns_client.record_sets.list_by_dns_zone
         record_list.return_value = rs
 
-        provider.populate(zone)
+        exists = provider.populate(zone)
+        self.assertTrue(exists)
 
         self.assertEquals(len(zone.records), 16)
 
@@ -377,6 +378,7 @@ class TestAzureDnsProvider(TestCase):
         _get = provider._dns_client.zones.get
         _get.side_effect = CloudError(Mock(status=404), err_msg)
 
-        provider.populate(Zone('unit3.test.', []))
+        exists = provider.populate(Zone('unit3.test.', []))
+        self.assertFalse(exists)
 
         self.assertEquals(len(zone.records), 0)