diff --git a/src/backend/distributed/transaction/worker_transaction.c b/src/backend/distributed/transaction/worker_transaction.c
index a9a0b94b0..ef64723ab 100644
--- a/src/backend/distributed/transaction/worker_transaction.c
+++ b/src/backend/distributed/transaction/worker_transaction.c
@@ -179,6 +179,13 @@ SendCommandListToWorkerInSingleTransaction(char *nodeName, int32 nodePort, char
 	PGresult *queryResult = NULL;
 	ListCell *commandCell = NULL;
 
+	if (XactModificationLevel > XACT_MODIFICATION_NONE)
+	{
+		ereport(ERROR, (errcode(ERRCODE_ACTIVE_SQL_TRANSACTION),
+						errmsg("cannot open new connections after the first modification "
+							   "command within a transaction")));
+	}
+
 	workerConnection = ConnectToNode(nodeName, nodePort, nodeUser);
 	if (workerConnection == NULL)
 	{
diff --git a/src/test/regress/expected/multi_repair_shards.out b/src/test/regress/expected/multi_repair_shards.out
index e39e1e185..41e92038a 100644
--- a/src/test/regress/expected/multi_repair_shards.out
+++ b/src/test/regress/expected/multi_repair_shards.out
@@ -38,6 +38,38 @@ SELECT shardid as newshardid FROM pg_dist_shard WHERE logicalrelid = 'customer_e
 \gset
 -- now, update the second placement as unhealthy
 UPDATE pg_dist_shard_placement SET shardstate = 3 WHERE shardid = :newshardid AND nodeport = :worker_2_port;
+-- cannot repair a shard after a modification (transaction still open during repair)
+BEGIN;
+ALTER TABLE customer_engagements ADD COLUMN value float;
+NOTICE:  using one-phase commit for distributed DDL commands
+HINT:  You can enable two-phase commit for extra safety with: SET citus.multi_shard_commit_protocol TO '2pc'
+SELECT master_copy_shard_placement(:newshardid, 'localhost', :worker_1_port, 'localhost', :worker_2_port);
+ERROR:  cannot open new connections after the first modification command within a transaction
+ROLLBACK;
+BEGIN;
+INSERT INTO customer_engagements VALUES (4, '04-01-2015', 'fourth event');
+SELECT master_copy_shard_placement(:newshardid, 'localhost', :worker_1_port, 'localhost', :worker_2_port);
+ERROR:  cannot open new connections after the first modification command within a transaction
+ROLLBACK;
+-- modifications after reparing a shard are fine (will use new metadata)
+BEGIN;
+SELECT master_copy_shard_placement(:newshardid, 'localhost', :worker_1_port, 'localhost', :worker_2_port);
+ master_copy_shard_placement 
+-----------------------------
+ 
+(1 row)
+
+ALTER TABLE customer_engagements ADD COLUMN value float;
+ROLLBACK;
+BEGIN;
+SELECT master_copy_shard_placement(:newshardid, 'localhost', :worker_1_port, 'localhost', :worker_2_port);
+ master_copy_shard_placement 
+-----------------------------
+ 
+(1 row)
+
+INSERT INTO customer_engagements VALUES (4, '04-01-2015', 'fourth event');
+ROLLBACK;
 -- add a fake healthy placement for the tests
 INSERT INTO pg_dist_shard_placement (nodename, nodeport, shardid, shardstate, shardlength)
 							 VALUES ('dummyhost', :worker_2_port, :newshardid, 1, 0);
diff --git a/src/test/regress/sql/multi_repair_shards.sql b/src/test/regress/sql/multi_repair_shards.sql
index 0fe2a1a62..5ea38f126 100644
--- a/src/test/regress/sql/multi_repair_shards.sql
+++ b/src/test/regress/sql/multi_repair_shards.sql
@@ -40,6 +40,28 @@ SELECT shardid as newshardid FROM pg_dist_shard WHERE logicalrelid = 'customer_e
 -- now, update the second placement as unhealthy
 UPDATE pg_dist_shard_placement SET shardstate = 3 WHERE shardid = :newshardid AND nodeport = :worker_2_port;
 
+-- cannot repair a shard after a modification (transaction still open during repair)
+BEGIN;
+ALTER TABLE customer_engagements ADD COLUMN value float;
+SELECT master_copy_shard_placement(:newshardid, 'localhost', :worker_1_port, 'localhost', :worker_2_port);
+ROLLBACK;
+
+BEGIN;
+INSERT INTO customer_engagements VALUES (4, '04-01-2015', 'fourth event');
+SELECT master_copy_shard_placement(:newshardid, 'localhost', :worker_1_port, 'localhost', :worker_2_port);
+ROLLBACK;
+
+-- modifications after reparing a shard are fine (will use new metadata)
+BEGIN;
+SELECT master_copy_shard_placement(:newshardid, 'localhost', :worker_1_port, 'localhost', :worker_2_port);
+ALTER TABLE customer_engagements ADD COLUMN value float;
+ROLLBACK;
+
+BEGIN;
+SELECT master_copy_shard_placement(:newshardid, 'localhost', :worker_1_port, 'localhost', :worker_2_port);
+INSERT INTO customer_engagements VALUES (4, '04-01-2015', 'fourth event');
+ROLLBACK;
+
 -- add a fake healthy placement for the tests
 INSERT INTO pg_dist_shard_placement (nodename, nodeport, shardid, shardstate, shardlength)
 							 VALUES ('dummyhost', :worker_2_port, :newshardid, 1, 0);