diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/service/StorageException.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/service/StorageException.java
index 0cda956..8a5cb4a 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/service/StorageException.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/service/StorageException.java
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * Store is temporarily unavailable.
+     */
+    public static class Unavailable extends StorageException {
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Store operation timeout.
      */
     public static class Timeout extends StorageException {
diff --git a/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/impl/StoragePartitionClient.java b/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/impl/StoragePartitionClient.java
index 63037d0..1495524 100644
--- a/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/impl/StoragePartitionClient.java
+++ b/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/impl/StoragePartitionClient.java
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 import org.onosproject.store.service.DistributedQueue;
 import org.onosproject.store.service.PartitionClientInfo;
 import org.onosproject.store.service.Serializer;
+import org.onosproject.store.service.StorageException;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 
 import com.google.common.base.Supplier;
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public <K, V> AsyncConsistentMap<K, V> newAsyncConsistentMap(String name, Serializer serializer) {
+        checkAvailability();
         AtomixConsistentMap atomixConsistentMap = client.getResource(name, AtomixConsistentMap.class).join();
         Consumer<State> statusListener = state -> {
             atomixConsistentMap.statusChangeListeners()
@@ -143,11 +145,13 @@
 
     @Override
     public <E> AsyncDistributedSet<E> newAsyncDistributedSet(String name, Serializer serializer) {
+        checkAvailability();
         return DistributedPrimitives.newSetFromMap(this.<E, Boolean>newAsyncConsistentMap(name, serializer));
     }
 
     @Override
     public AsyncAtomicCounter newAsyncCounter(String name) {
+        checkAvailability();
         DistributedLong distributedLong = client.getLong(name).join();
         return new AtomixCounter(name, distributedLong);
     }
@@ -165,6 +169,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public AsyncLeaderElector newAsyncLeaderElector(String name) {
+        checkAvailability();
         AtomixLeaderElector leaderElector = client.getResource(name, AtomixLeaderElector.class)
                                                   .thenCompose(AtomixLeaderElector::setupCache)
                                                   .join();
@@ -178,11 +183,13 @@
 
     @Override
     public Set<String> getAsyncConsistentMapNames() {
+        checkAvailability();
         return client.keys(AtomixConsistentMap.class).join();
     }
 
     @Override
     public Set<String> getAsyncAtomicCounterNames() {
+        checkAvailability();
         return client.keys(DistributedLong.class).join();
     }
 
@@ -227,4 +234,10 @@
         }
         return new ResourceClient(new QueryRetryingCopycatClient(copycatClient, 2, 100));
     }
+
+    private void checkAvailability() {
+        if (resourceClient.client().state() == State.SUSPENDED || resourceClient.client().state() == State.CLOSED) {
+            throw new StorageException.Unavailable();
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/resources/impl/AtomixConsistentMap.java b/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/resources/impl/AtomixConsistentMap.java
index f1a44de..23d2f86 100644
--- a/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/resources/impl/AtomixConsistentMap.java
+++ b/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/resources/impl/AtomixConsistentMap.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
  */
 package org.onosproject.store.primitives.resources.impl;
 
+import io.atomix.copycat.Operation;
 import io.atomix.copycat.client.CopycatClient;
 import io.atomix.resource.AbstractResource;
 import io.atomix.resource.ResourceTypeInfo;
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@
 import java.util.function.Predicate;
 
 import org.onlab.util.Match;
+import org.onlab.util.Tools;
 import org.onosproject.store.primitives.TransactionId;
 import org.onosproject.store.primitives.resources.impl.AtomixConsistentMapCommands.Clear;
 import org.onosproject.store.primitives.resources.impl.AtomixConsistentMapCommands.ContainsKey;
@@ -55,6 +57,7 @@
 import org.onosproject.store.service.MapEvent;
 import org.onosproject.store.service.MapEventListener;
 import org.onosproject.store.service.MapTransaction;
+import org.onosproject.store.service.StorageException;
 import org.onosproject.store.service.Versioned;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
@@ -97,48 +100,48 @@
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Boolean> isEmpty() {
-        return client.submit(new IsEmpty());
+        return submit(new IsEmpty());
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Integer> size() {
-        return client.submit(new Size());
+        return submit(new Size());
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Boolean> containsKey(String key) {
-        return client.submit(new ContainsKey(key));
+        return submit(new ContainsKey(key));
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Boolean> containsValue(byte[] value) {
-        return client.submit(new ContainsValue(value));
+        return submit(new ContainsValue(value));
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Versioned<byte[]>> get(String key) {
-        return client.submit(new Get(key));
+        return submit(new Get(key));
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Set<String>> keySet() {
-        return client.submit(new KeySet());
+        return submit(new KeySet());
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Collection<Versioned<byte[]>>> values() {
-        return client.submit(new Values());
+        return submit(new Values());
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Set<Entry<String, Versioned<byte[]>>>> entrySet() {
-        return client.submit(new EntrySet());
+        return submit(new EntrySet());
     }
 
     @Override
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     public CompletableFuture<Versioned<byte[]>> put(String key, byte[] value) {
-        return client.submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, value, Match.ANY, Match.ANY))
+        return submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, value, Match.ANY, Match.ANY))
                 .whenComplete((r, e) -> throwIfLocked(r.status()))
                 .thenApply(v -> v.oldValue());
     }
@@ -146,7 +149,7 @@
     @Override
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     public CompletableFuture<Versioned<byte[]>> putAndGet(String key, byte[] value) {
-        return client.submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, value, Match.ANY, Match.ANY))
+        return submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, value, Match.ANY, Match.ANY))
                 .whenComplete((r, e) -> throwIfLocked(r.status()))
                 .thenApply(v -> v.newValue());
     }
@@ -154,14 +157,14 @@
     @Override
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     public CompletableFuture<Versioned<byte[]>> putIfAbsent(String key, byte[] value) {
-        return client.submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, value, Match.NULL, Match.ANY))
+        return submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, value, Match.NULL, Match.ANY))
                 .whenComplete((r, e) -> throwIfLocked(r.status()))
                 .thenApply(v -> v.oldValue());
     }
     @Override
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     public CompletableFuture<Versioned<byte[]>> remove(String key) {
-        return client.submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, null, Match.ANY, Match.ANY))
+        return submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, null, Match.ANY, Match.ANY))
                 .whenComplete((r, e) -> throwIfLocked(r.status()))
                 .thenApply(v -> v.oldValue());
     }
@@ -169,7 +172,7 @@
     @Override
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     public CompletableFuture<Boolean> remove(String key, byte[] value) {
-        return client.submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, null, Match.ifValue(value), Match.ANY))
+        return submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, null, Match.ifValue(value), Match.ANY))
                 .whenComplete((r, e) -> throwIfLocked(r.status()))
                 .thenApply(v -> v.updated());
     }
@@ -177,7 +180,7 @@
     @Override
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     public CompletableFuture<Boolean> remove(String key, long version) {
-        return client.submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, null, Match.ANY, Match.ifValue(version)))
+        return submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, null, Match.ANY, Match.ifValue(version)))
                 .whenComplete((r, e) -> throwIfLocked(r.status()))
                 .thenApply(v -> v.updated());
     }
@@ -185,7 +188,7 @@
     @Override
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     public CompletableFuture<Versioned<byte[]>> replace(String key, byte[] value) {
-        return client.submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, value, Match.NOT_NULL, Match.ANY))
+        return submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, value, Match.NOT_NULL, Match.ANY))
                 .whenComplete((r, e) -> throwIfLocked(r.status()))
                 .thenApply(v -> v.oldValue());
     }
@@ -193,7 +196,7 @@
     @Override
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     public CompletableFuture<Boolean> replace(String key, byte[] oldValue, byte[] newValue) {
-        return client.submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, newValue, Match.ifValue(oldValue), Match.ANY))
+        return submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, newValue, Match.ifValue(oldValue), Match.ANY))
                 .whenComplete((r, e) -> throwIfLocked(r.status()))
                 .thenApply(v -> v.updated());
     }
@@ -201,14 +204,14 @@
     @Override
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     public CompletableFuture<Boolean> replace(String key, long oldVersion, byte[] newValue) {
-        return client.submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, newValue, Match.ANY, Match.ifValue(oldVersion)))
+        return submit(new UpdateAndGet(key, newValue, Match.ANY, Match.ifValue(oldVersion)))
                 .whenComplete((r, e) -> throwIfLocked(r.status()))
                 .thenApply(v -> v.updated());
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Void> clear() {
-        return client.submit(new Clear())
+        return submit(new Clear())
                 .whenComplete((r, e) -> throwIfLocked(r))
                 .thenApply(v -> null);
     }
@@ -239,7 +242,7 @@
             }
             Match<byte[]> valueMatch = r1 == null ? Match.NULL : Match.ANY;
             Match<Long> versionMatch = r1 == null ? Match.ANY : Match.ifValue(r1.version());
-            return client.submit(new UpdateAndGet(key,
+            return submit(new UpdateAndGet(key,
                     computedValue.get(),
                     valueMatch,
                     versionMatch))
@@ -252,7 +255,7 @@
     public synchronized CompletableFuture<Void> addListener(MapEventListener<String, byte[]> listener,
                                                             Executor executor) {
         if (mapEventListeners.isEmpty()) {
-            return client.submit(new Listen()).thenRun(() -> mapEventListeners.putIfAbsent(listener, executor));
+            return submit(new Listen()).thenRun(() -> mapEventListeners.putIfAbsent(listener, executor));
         } else {
             mapEventListeners.put(listener, executor);
             return CompletableFuture.completedFuture(null);
@@ -262,7 +265,7 @@
     @Override
     public synchronized CompletableFuture<Void> removeListener(MapEventListener<String, byte[]> listener) {
         if (mapEventListeners.remove(listener) != null && mapEventListeners.isEmpty()) {
-            return client.submit(new Unlisten()).thenApply(v -> null);
+            return submit(new Unlisten()).thenApply(v -> null);
         }
         return CompletableFuture.completedFuture(null);
     }
@@ -275,23 +278,23 @@
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Boolean> prepare(MapTransaction<String, byte[]> transaction) {
-        return client.submit(new TransactionPrepare(transaction)).thenApply(v -> v == PrepareResult.OK);
+        return submit(new TransactionPrepare(transaction)).thenApply(v -> v == PrepareResult.OK);
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Void> commit(TransactionId transactionId) {
-        return client.submit(new TransactionCommit(transactionId)).thenApply(v -> null);
+        return submit(new TransactionCommit(transactionId)).thenApply(v -> null);
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Void> rollback(TransactionId transactionId) {
-        return client.submit(new TransactionRollback(transactionId))
+        return submit(new TransactionRollback(transactionId))
                 .thenApply(v -> null);
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Boolean> prepareAndCommit(MapTransaction<String, byte[]> transaction) {
-        return client.submit(new TransactionPrepareAndCommit(transaction)).thenApply(v -> v == PrepareResult.OK);
+        return submit(new TransactionPrepareAndCommit(transaction)).thenApply(v -> v == PrepareResult.OK);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -308,4 +311,11 @@
     public Collection<Consumer<Status>> statusChangeListeners() {
         return ImmutableSet.copyOf(statusChangeListeners);
     }
+
+    <T> CompletableFuture<T> submit(Operation<T> command) {
+        if (client.state() == CopycatClient.State.SUSPENDED || client.state() == CopycatClient.State.CLOSED) {
+            return Tools.exceptionalFuture(new StorageException.Unavailable());
+        }
+        return client.submit(command);
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/resources/impl/AtomixLeaderElector.java b/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/resources/impl/AtomixLeaderElector.java
index be5d9ca..2c2f47d 100644
--- a/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/resources/impl/AtomixLeaderElector.java
+++ b/core/store/primitives/src/main/java/org/onosproject/store/primitives/resources/impl/AtomixLeaderElector.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
  */
 package org.onosproject.store.primitives.resources.impl;
 
+import io.atomix.copycat.Operation;
 import io.atomix.copycat.client.CopycatClient;
 import io.atomix.resource.AbstractResource;
 import io.atomix.resource.ResourceTypeInfo;
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
 import java.util.function.Consumer;
 
+import org.onlab.util.Tools;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.Leadership;
 import org.onosproject.cluster.NodeId;
 import org.onosproject.event.Change;
@@ -40,6 +42,7 @@
 import org.onosproject.store.primitives.resources.impl.AtomixLeaderElectorCommands.Unlisten;
 import org.onosproject.store.primitives.resources.impl.AtomixLeaderElectorCommands.Withdraw;
 import org.onosproject.store.service.AsyncLeaderElector;
+import org.onosproject.store.service.StorageException;
 
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
 import com.google.common.cache.CacheBuilder;
@@ -67,7 +70,7 @@
         super(client, properties);
         cache = CacheBuilder.newBuilder()
                 .maximumSize(1000)
-                .build(CacheLoader.from(topic -> this.client.submit(new GetLeadership(topic))));
+                .build(CacheLoader.from(topic -> submit(new GetLeadership(topic))));
 
         cacheUpdater = change -> {
             Leadership leadership = change.newValue();
@@ -110,27 +113,27 @@
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Leadership> run(String topic, NodeId nodeId) {
-        return client.submit(new Run(topic, nodeId)).whenComplete((r, e) -> cache.invalidate(topic));
+        return submit(new Run(topic, nodeId)).whenComplete((r, e) -> cache.invalidate(topic));
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Void> withdraw(String topic) {
-        return client.submit(new Withdraw(topic)).whenComplete((r, e) -> cache.invalidate(topic));
+        return submit(new Withdraw(topic)).whenComplete((r, e) -> cache.invalidate(topic));
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Boolean> anoint(String topic, NodeId nodeId) {
-        return client.submit(new Anoint(topic, nodeId)).whenComplete((r, e) -> cache.invalidate(topic));
+        return submit(new Anoint(topic, nodeId)).whenComplete((r, e) -> cache.invalidate(topic));
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Boolean> promote(String topic, NodeId nodeId) {
-        return client.submit(new Promote(topic, nodeId)).whenComplete((r, e) -> cache.invalidate(topic));
+        return submit(new Promote(topic, nodeId)).whenComplete((r, e) -> cache.invalidate(topic));
     }
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Void> evict(NodeId nodeId) {
-        return client.submit(new AtomixLeaderElectorCommands.Evict(nodeId));
+        return submit(new AtomixLeaderElectorCommands.Evict(nodeId));
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -145,17 +148,17 @@
 
     @Override
     public CompletableFuture<Map<String, Leadership>> getLeaderships() {
-        return client.submit(new GetAllLeaderships());
+        return submit(new GetAllLeaderships());
     }
 
     public CompletableFuture<Set<String>> getElectedTopics(NodeId nodeId) {
-        return client.submit(new GetElectedTopics(nodeId));
+        return submit(new GetElectedTopics(nodeId));
     }
 
     @Override
     public synchronized CompletableFuture<Void> addChangeListener(Consumer<Change<Leadership>> consumer) {
         if (leadershipChangeListeners.isEmpty()) {
-            return client.submit(new Listen()).thenRun(() -> leadershipChangeListeners.add(consumer));
+            return submit(new Listen()).thenRun(() -> leadershipChangeListeners.add(consumer));
         } else {
             leadershipChangeListeners.add(consumer);
             return CompletableFuture.completedFuture(null);
@@ -165,7 +168,7 @@
     @Override
     public synchronized CompletableFuture<Void> removeChangeListener(Consumer<Change<Leadership>> consumer) {
         if (leadershipChangeListeners.remove(consumer) && leadershipChangeListeners.isEmpty()) {
-            return client.submit(new Unlisten()).thenApply(v -> null);
+            return submit(new Unlisten()).thenApply(v -> null);
         }
         return CompletableFuture.completedFuture(null);
     }
@@ -184,4 +187,11 @@
     public Collection<Consumer<Status>> statusChangeListeners() {
         return ImmutableSet.copyOf(statusChangeListeners);
     }
+
+    <T> CompletableFuture<T> submit(Operation<T> command) {
+        if (client.state() == CopycatClient.State.SUSPENDED || client.state() == CopycatClient.State.CLOSED) {
+            return Tools.exceptionalFuture(new StorageException.Unavailable());
+        }
+        return client.submit(command);
+    }
 }