diff --git a/src/simplezfs/zfs_cli.py b/src/simplezfs/zfs_cli.py
index c3e55a3..911aa78 100644
--- a/src/simplezfs/zfs_cli.py
+++ b/src/simplezfs/zfs_cli.py
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@ class ZFSCli(ZFS):
     If ``zfs_exe`` is supplied, it is assumed that it points to the path of the ``zfs(8)`` executable.
     '''
     def __init__(self, *, metadata_namespace: Optional[str] = None, pe_helper: Optional[PEHelperBase] = None,
-                 use_pe_helper: bool = False, zfs_exe: Optional[str] = None, **kwargs) -> None:
-        super().__init__(metadata_namespace=metadata_namespace, pe_helper=pe_helper, use_pe_helper=use_pe_helper,
+                 pe_helper_mode: PEHelperMode = PEHelperMode.DO_NOT_USE, zfs_exe: Optional[str] = None,
+                 **kwargs) -> None:
+        super().__init__(metadata_namespace=metadata_namespace, pe_helper=pe_helper, pe_helper_mode=pe_helper_mode,
                          **kwargs)
         self.find_executable(path=zfs_exe)
 
diff --git a/src/simplezfs/zpool.py b/src/simplezfs/zpool.py
index 7da032a..b364936 100644
--- a/src/simplezfs/zpool.py
+++ b/src/simplezfs/zpool.py
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 
+'''
+ZPOOL frontend API
+'''
+
 import logging
 import os
 import stat
 from typing import Optional
 
+from .pe_helper import PEHelperBase
+from .types import PEHelperMode
 
 log = logging.getLogger('simplezfs.zpool')
 
@@ -20,12 +26,25 @@ class ZPool:
     * Using the native API
 
     When creating an instance of this class, select one or the other as the ``api`` argument.
+
+
+    **Properties and Metadata**
+
+    Please see the documentation for :class:`~simplezfs.zfs.ZFS` for native and metadata properties.
+
+    :param metadata_namespace: Default namespace
+    :param pe_helper: Privilege escalation (PE) helper to use for actions that require elevated privileges (root).
+    :param pe_helper_mode: How and when to use the PEHelper. Defaults to not using it at all.
+    :param kwargs: Extra arguments, ignored
     '''
-    def __init__(self, *, metadata_namespace: Optional[str] = None, pe_helper: Optional[str] = None,
-                 use_pe_helper: bool = False, **kwargs) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, *, metadata_namespace: Optional[str] = None, pe_helper: Optional[PEHelperBase] = None,
+                 pe_helper_mode: PEHelperMode = PEHelperMode.DO_NOT_USE, **kwargs) -> None:
         self.metadata_namespace = metadata_namespace
         self.pe_helper = pe_helper
-        self.use_pe_helper = use_pe_helper
+        self.pe_helper_mode = pe_helper_mode
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'<ZPool(pe_helper="{self._pe_helper}", pe_helper_mode="{self._pe_helper_mode}")>'
 
     @property
     def metadata_namespace(self) -> Optional[str]:
@@ -44,36 +63,37 @@ class ZPool:
         self._metadata_namespace = namespace
 
     @property
-    def pe_helper(self) -> Optional[str]:
+    def pe_helper(self) -> Optional[PEHelperBase]:
         '''
         Returns the pe_helper, which may be None if not set.
         '''
         return self._pe_helper
 
     @pe_helper.setter
-    def pe_helper(self, helper: Optional[str]) -> None:
+    def pe_helper(self, helper: Optional[PEHelperBase]) -> None:
         '''
-        Sets the privilege escalation (PE) helper. Some basic checks for existance and executability are performed,
-        but these are not sufficient for secure operation and are provided to aid the user in configuring the library.
-
-        :note: This method does not follow symlinks.
-
-        :raises FileNotFoundError: if the helper can't be found or is not executable.
+        Sets the privilege escalation (PE) helper. Supply ``None`` to unset it.
         '''
         if helper is None:
             log.debug('PE helper is None')
-            self._pe_helper = None
-        else:
-            candidate = helper.strip()
-
-            mode = os.lstat(candidate).st_mode
-            if not stat.S_ISREG(mode):
-                raise FileNotFoundError('PE helper must be a file')
-            if not os.access(candidate, os.X_OK):
-                raise FileNotFoundError('PE helper must be executable')
-            log.debug(f'Setting privilege escalation helper to "{candidate}"')
-            self._pe_helper = candidate
+        self._pe_helper = helper
 
+    @property
+    def pe_helper_mode(self) -> PEHelperMode:
+        '''
+        Returns whether the privilege escalation (PE) helper should be used and when. If the helper has not been set,
+        this property evaluates to ``False``.
+        '''
+        if self._pe_helper is None:
+            return PEHelperMode.DO_NOT_USE
+        return self._pe_helper_mode
+
+    @pe_helper_mode.setter
+    def pe_helper_mode(self, mode: PEHelperMode) -> None:
+        '''
+        Sets the privilege escalation (PE) helper mode.
+        '''
+        self._pe_helper_mode = mode
 
 def get_zpool(api: str = 'cli', metadata_namespace: Optional[str] = None, **kwargs) -> ZPool:
     '''
diff --git a/src/simplezfs/zpool_cli.py b/src/simplezfs/zpool_cli.py
index 8e53b2d..8ab6dd2 100644
--- a/src/simplezfs/zpool_cli.py
+++ b/src/simplezfs/zpool_cli.py
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ import logging
 import shutil
 
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
-from .types import ZPoolHealth
+
+from .pe_helper import PEHelperBase
+from .types import PEHelperMode, ZPoolHealth
 from .zpool import ZPool
 
 log = logging.getLogger('simplezfs.zpool_cli')
@@ -21,18 +23,23 @@ class ZPoolCli(ZPool):
 
     If ``zpool_exe`` is supplied, it is assumed that it points to the path to the ``zpool(8)`` executable.
     '''
-    def __init__(self, *, metadata_namespace: Optional[str] = None, pe_helper: Optional[str] = None,
-                 use_pe_helper: bool = False, zpool_exe: Optional[str] = None, **kwargs) -> None:
-        super().__init__(metadata_namespace=metadata_namespace, pe_helper=pe_helper, use_pe_helper=use_pe_helper)
+    def __init__(self, *, metadata_namespace: Optional[str] = None, pe_helper: Optional[PEHelperBase] = None,
+                 pe_helper_mode: PEHelperMode = PEHelperMode.DO_NOT_USE, zpool_exe: Optional[str] = None,
+                 **kwargs) -> None:
+        super().__init__(metadata_namespace=metadata_namespace, pe_helper=pe_helper, pe_helper_mode=pe_helper_mode,
+                         **kwargs)
         self.find_executable(path=zpool_exe)
 
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return f'<ZPoolCLI(exe="{self.__exe}", pe_helper="{self._pe_helper}", pe_helper_mode="{self._pe_helper_mode}")>'
+
     def find_executable(self, path: str = None) -> None:
         '''
         Tries to find the executable ``zpool``. If ``path`` points to an executable, it is used instead of relying on
         the PATH to find it. It does not fall back to searching in PATH if ``path`` does not point to an exeuctable.
         An exception is raised if no executable could be found.
 
-        :param path: Path to an executable to use instead of searching through $PATH.
+        :param path: Path to the executable, used blindly if supplied.
         :raises OSError: If the executable could not be found.
         '''
         exe_path = path
@@ -40,14 +47,14 @@ class ZPoolCli(ZPool):
             exe_path = shutil.which('zpool')
 
         if not exe_path:
-            raise OSError('Could not find the executable')
+            raise OSError('Could not find executable')
 
         self.__exe = exe_path
 
     @property
     def executable(self) -> str:
         '''
-        Returns the executable found by find_executable.
+        Returns the zpool executable that was found by find_executable.
         '''
         return self.__exe
 
diff --git a/tests/test_zpool_cli.py b/tests/test_zpool_cli.py
index 46fd3c2..a64b246 100644
--- a/tests/test_zpool_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_zpool_cli.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class TestZPoolCli:
 
         with pytest.raises(OSError) as excinfo:
             ZPoolCli()
-        assert 'not find the executable' in str(excinfo.value)
+        assert 'not find executable' in str(excinfo.value)
 
     ##########################################################################