diff --git a/locator/tablet_metadata_guard.hh b/locator/tablet_metadata_guard.hh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0731ea8faa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/locator/tablet_metadata_guard.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2023-present ScyllaDB
+ */
+
+/*
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "replica/database.hh"
+#include "locator/tablets.hh"
+#include "locator/abstract_replication_strategy.hh"
+
+namespace locator {
+
+/// A holder for table's effective_replication_map which
+/// automatically switches to the latest one as long as it
+/// does not affect the tablet associated with this guard.
+///
+/// This is useful for tracking long-running operations in
+/// the context of a single tablet which we don't want to
+/// block topology barriers for other tablets, only barriers for
+/// this tablet.
+class tablet_metadata_guard {
+    lw_shared_ptr<replica::table> _table;
+    global_tablet_id _tablet;
+    effective_replication_map_ptr _erm;
+    std::optional<tablet_transition_stage> _stage;
+    seastar::abort_source _abort_source;
+    optimized_optional<seastar::abort_source::subscription> _callback;
+private:
+    void subscribe();
+    void check() noexcept;
+public:
+    tablet_metadata_guard(replica::table& table, global_tablet_id tablet);
+
+    /// Returns an abort_source which is signaled when effective_replication_map changes
+    /// in a way which is relevant for the tablet associated with this guard.
+    /// When this happens, the guard stops refreshing the effective_replication_map,
+    /// which will block topology coordinator barriers until the guard is destroyed.
+    ///
+    /// The abort_source is valid as long as this instance is alive.
+    seastar::abort_source& get_abort_source() {
+        return _abort_source;
+    }
+
+    locator::token_metadata_ptr get_token_metadata() {
+        return _erm->get_token_metadata_ptr();
+    }
+
+    /// Returns tablet_map for the table of the tablet associated with this guard.
+    /// The result is valid until the next deferring point.
+    const locator::tablet_map& get_tablet_map() {
+        return get_token_metadata()->tablets().get_tablet_map(_tablet.table);
+    }
+};
+
+} // namespace locator
diff --git a/locator/tablets.cc b/locator/tablets.cc
index 7e238573a6..5103a214d7 100644
--- a/locator/tablets.cc
+++ b/locator/tablets.cc
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #include "locator/tablet_replication_strategy.hh"
 #include "locator/tablets.hh"
+#include "locator/tablet_metadata_guard.hh"
 #include "locator/tablet_sharder.hh"
 #include "locator/token_range_splitter.hh"
 #include "dht/i_partitioner.hh"
@@ -511,6 +512,35 @@ effective_replication_map_ptr tablet_aware_replication_strategy::do_make_replica
     return seastar::make_shared<tablet_effective_replication_map>(table, std::move(rs), std::move(tm), replication_factor);
 }
 
+void tablet_metadata_guard::check() noexcept {
+    auto erm = _table->get_effective_replication_map();
+    auto& tmap = erm->get_token_metadata_ptr()->tablets().get_tablet_map(_tablet.table);
+    auto* trinfo = tmap.get_tablet_transition_info(_tablet.tablet);
+    if (bool(_stage) != bool(trinfo) || (_stage && _stage != trinfo->stage)) {
+        _abort_source.request_abort();
+    } else {
+        _erm = std::move(erm);
+        subscribe();
+    }
+}
+
+tablet_metadata_guard::tablet_metadata_guard(replica::table& table, global_tablet_id tablet)
+    : _table(table.shared_from_this())
+    , _tablet(tablet)
+    , _erm(table.get_effective_replication_map())
+{
+    subscribe();
+    if (auto* trinfo = get_tablet_map().get_tablet_transition_info(tablet.tablet)) {
+        _stage = trinfo->stage;
+    }
+}
+
+void tablet_metadata_guard::subscribe() {
+    _callback = _erm->get_validity_abort_source().subscribe([this] () noexcept {
+        check();
+    });
+}
+
 }
 
 auto fmt::formatter<locator::global_tablet_id>::format(const locator::global_tablet_id& id, fmt::format_context& ctx) const