diff --git a/usr/bin/spoc-app b/usr/bin/spoc-app
index 120a7fe..17f70bd 100755
--- a/usr/bin/spoc-app
+++ b/usr/bin/spoc-app
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ from spoc import repo_local, repo_online, repo_publish
 from spoc.app import App
 from spoc.cli import ActionQueue, print_lock, readable_size
 from spoc.config import LOCK_FILE
-from spoc.container import ContainerState
 from spoc.flock import locked
 from spoc.image import Image
 
@@ -25,21 +24,9 @@ def listing(list_type):
     elif list_type == 'published':
         apps = repo_publish.get_apps()
     elif list_type == 'running':
-        apps = []
-        for app in repo_local.get_apps():
-            app = App(app)
-            for container in app.containers:
-                if container.get_state() == ContainerState.RUNNING:
-                    apps.append(app.name)
-                    break
+        apps = [app for app in repo_local.get_apps() if App(app).is_running()]
     elif list_type == 'stopped':
-        apps = list(repo_local.get_apps())
-        for app in repo_local.get_apps():
-            app = App(app)
-            for container in app.containers:
-                if container.get_state() == ContainerState.RUNNING:
-                    apps.remove(app.name)
-                    break
+        apps = [app for app in repo_local.get_apps() if App(app).is_stopped()]
     for app in apps:
         print(app)
 
diff --git a/usr/bin/spoc-container b/usr/bin/spoc-container
index 7317ad7..4e725d2 100755
--- a/usr/bin/spoc-container
+++ b/usr/bin/spoc-container
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import sys
 
 from spoc import repo_local
 from spoc.config import VOLUMES_DIR
-from spoc.container import Container, ContainerState
+from spoc.container import Container
 from spoc.image import Image
 
 def listing(state):
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ def listing(state):
     if state == 'all':
         containers = repo_local.get_containers().keys()
     elif state == 'running':
-        containers = [c for c in repo_local.get_containers() if Container(c).get_state() == ContainerState.RUNNING]
+        containers = [c for c in repo_local.get_containers() if Container(c).is_running()]
     elif state == 'stopped':
-        containers = [c for c in repo_local.get_containers() if Container(c).get_state() == ContainerState.STOPPED]
+        containers = [c for c in repo_local.get_containers() if Container(c).is_stopped()]
     for container in containers:
         print(container)
 
diff --git a/usr/lib/python3.8/spoc/app.py b/usr/lib/python3.8/spoc/app.py
index 95a6999..88563fe 100644
--- a/usr/lib/python3.8/spoc/app.py
+++ b/usr/lib/python3.8/spoc/app.py
@@ -157,9 +157,20 @@ class App:
                 observer.units_done += 1
 
     def status(self):
-        # Return status fo all application containers
+        # Return status for all application containers
         return {container.name:container.get_state() for container in sorted(self.containers)}
 
+    def is_running(self):
+        # Convenience method to determine if any of the application's containers are running
+        for container in self.containers:
+            if container.is_running():
+                return True
+        return False
+
+    def is_stopped(self):
+        # Convenience method to determine if all of the application's containers are stopped
+        return not self.is_running()
+
     def set_autostart(self, autostart):
         # Configure if the application should be automatically started after boot
         self.autostart = autostart
diff --git a/usr/lib/python3.8/spoc/container.py b/usr/lib/python3.8/spoc/container.py
index d0dd482..a887ba3 100644
--- a/usr/lib/python3.8/spoc/container.py
+++ b/usr/lib/python3.8/spoc/container.py
@@ -68,6 +68,14 @@ class Container:
         state = subprocess.run(['lxc-info', '-sH', '-P', config.CONTAINERS_DIR, self.name], capture_output=True, check=True)
         return ContainerState[state.stdout.strip().decode()]
 
+    def is_running(self):
+        # Convenience method to determine if the container is running
+        return self.get_state() == ContainerState.RUNNING
+
+    def is_stopped(self):
+        # Convenience method to determine if the container is stopped
+        return self.get_state() == ContainerState.STOPPED
+
     def await_state(self, awaited_state):
         # Block execution until the container reaches the desired state or until timeout
         try:
@@ -156,7 +164,8 @@ class Container:
         depsolver = DepSolver()
         self.get_start_dependencies(depsolver)
         for dependency in depsolver.solve():
-            if dependency.get_state() != ContainerState.RUNNING:
+            if not dependency.is_running():
+                # Pass start command only to the current container
                 dependency.do_start(command if dependency.name == self.name else None)
 
     def do_start(self, command=None):
@@ -189,7 +198,7 @@ class Container:
         depsolver = DepSolver()
         self.get_stop_dependencies(depsolver)
         for dependency in depsolver.solve():
-            if dependency.get_state() != ContainerState.STOPPED:
+            if not dependency.is_stopped():
                 dependency.do_stop()
 
     def do_stop(self):