diff --git a/_modules/helm.py b/_modules/helm.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b849676
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_modules/helm.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import logging
+
+from salt.serializers import yaml
+
+HELM_HOME = '/srv/helm/home'
+LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+def _helm_cmd(*args):
+    return {
+        'cmd': ('helm',) + args,
+        'env': {'HELM_HOME': HELM_HOME},
+    }
+
+
+def release_exists(name):
+    cmd = _helm_cmd('list', '--short', '--all', name)
+    return __salt__['cmd.run_stdout'](**cmd) == name
+
+
+def release_create(name, chart_name, version=None, values=None):
+    args = []
+    if version is not None:
+        args += ['--version', version]
+    if values is not None:
+        args += ['--values', '/dev/stdin']
+    cmd = _helm_cmd('install', '--name', name, chart_name, *args)
+    if values is not None:
+        cmd['stdin'] = yaml.serialize(values, default_flow_style=False)
+    LOG.debug('Creating release with args: %s', cmd)
+    return __salt__['cmd.retcode'](**cmd) == 0