diff --git a/pillar_tool/routers/pillar.py b/pillar_tool/routers/pillar.py
index ecd22e7..7b8cca7 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/routers/pillar.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/routers/pillar.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from pillar_tool.db.models.top_data import State, StateAssignment
 from pillar_tool.db.queries.pillar_queries import get_pillar_for_target
 from pillar_tool.schemas import PillarParams, get_model_from_query
 from pillar_tool.util.pillar_utilities import merge
-from pillar_tool.util.validation import validate_state_name
+from pillar_tool.util.validation import validate_state_name, validate_fqdn
 
 router = APIRouter(
     prefix="/pillar",
@@ -57,13 +57,29 @@ def pillar_get(req: Request, fqdn: str):
 
 
 
-@router.post("/{fqdn}")
-def pillar_create(req: Request, fqdn: str, params: PillarParams):
-    # TODO: implement
+@router.post("/{name}")
+def pillar_create(req: Request, name: str, params: PillarParams):
     db = req.state.db
 
+    # ensure that value and type have been set in the request parameters
+    if params.type is None or params.value is None:
 
-@router.delete("/{fqdn}")
-def pillar_delete(req: Request, fqdn: str):
+
+    target_stmt = select(Host).where(Host.name == name)
+    result = db.execute(target_stmt).fetchall()
+
+    if len(result) == 0:
+        return JSONResponse(status_code=404, content={})
+
+    # this should be enforced by the database
+    assert len(result) == 1
+    target: Host = result[0][0]
+
+
+
+
+
+@router.delete("/{name}")
+def pillar_delete(req: Request, name: str):
     # TODO: implement
     db = req.state.db