diff --git a/ais/proxy.go b/ais/proxy.go
index 2e24f064433..fa292fe9bf1 100644
--- a/ais/proxy.go
+++ b/ais/proxy.go
@@ -2674,13 +2674,7 @@ func (p *proxy) httpdaeget(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			return
 		}
 		if checkReady := r.Header.Get(apc.HdrReadyToJoinClu); checkReady != "" {
-			err := p.pready(smap, true)
-			if err == nil {
-				if cmn.GCO.Get().Rebalance.Enabled && smap.CountTargets() > 1 {
-					err = errors.New(p.String() + ": please disable global rebalance for the duration of the critical (force-join) operation")
-				}
-			}
-			if err != nil {
+			if err := p.readyToJoinClu(smap); err != nil {
 				p.writeErr(w, r, err)
 				return
 			}
@@ -2691,6 +2685,18 @@ func (p *proxy) httpdaeget(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 }
 
+func (p *proxy) readyToJoinClu(smap *smapX) error {
+	switch {
+	case !smap.IsPrimary(p.si):
+		return newErrNotPrimary(p.si, smap)
+	case cmn.GCO.Get().Rebalance.Enabled && smap.CountTargets() > 1:
+		return errors.New(p.String() + ": please disable global rebalance for the duration of the critical (force-join) operation")
+	case nlog.Stopping():
+		return p.errStopping()
+	}
+	return p.pready(smap, true)
+}
+
 func (p *proxy) httpdaeput(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	apiItems, err := p.parseURL(w, r, apc.URLPathDae.L, 0, true)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/ais/psetforce.go b/ais/psetforce.go
index c0d37717750..3aac1b700f6 100644
--- a/ais/psetforce.go
+++ b/ais/psetforce.go
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ func (p *proxy) forceJoin(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, npid string, q
 	// 2. the first inter-cluster network call:
 	// get and validate destination Smap, henceforth nsmap
 	nsmap, ern := p._getSmapCheckReady(nurl)
-	if _destinationNotReady(ern) {
+	if ern != nil && _destinationNotReady(ern) {
 		p.writeErr(w, r, ern)
 		return
 	}
@@ -374,6 +374,7 @@ func (p *proxy) forceJoin(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, npid string, q
 	p.metasyncer.becomeNonPrimary()
 	time.Sleep(time.Second)
 
+	// TODO -- FIXME: remove?
 	// 10. finally, ask npsi to bump versions and metasync all (see `msyncForceAll`)
 	const act2 = "\"bump\""
 	nlog.Infoln(act, "(10) npsi to", act2, "metasync")