diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ab902f9e..09342c0e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-## 8.21.2 (February 23rd 2024)
+## 8.21.3 (unreleased)
 ### Implementation changes and bug fixes
-- [PR #1697](https://github.com/rqlite/rqlite/pull/1697): Use consistent file perms post Boot.
+- [PR #1700](https://github.com/rqlite/rqlite/pull/1700): Accessing non-open Store shouldn't panic.  Fixes issue [#1698](https://github.com/rqlite/rqlite/issues/1698).
+
 
 ## 8.21.1 (February 21st 2024)
 ### Implementation changes and bug fixes
diff --git a/store/store.go b/store/store.go
index db4035da..d0f0fb43 100644
--- a/store/store.go
+++ b/store/store.go
@@ -591,6 +591,9 @@ func (s *Store) Bootstrap(servers ...*Server) error {
 // the cluster. If this node is not the leader, and 'wait' is true, an error
 // will be returned.
 func (s *Store) Stepdown(wait bool) error {
+	if !s.open {
+		return ErrNotOpen
+	}
 	f := s.raft.LeadershipTransfer()
 	if !wait {
 		return nil
@@ -760,11 +763,17 @@ func (s *Store) DBAppliedIndex() uint64 {
 
 // IsLeader is used to determine if the current node is cluster leader
 func (s *Store) IsLeader() bool {
+	if !s.open {
+		return false
+	}
 	return s.raft.State() == raft.Leader
 }
 
 // HasLeader returns true if the cluster has a leader, false otherwise.
 func (s *Store) HasLeader() bool {
+	if !s.open {
+		return false
+	}
 	return s.raft.Leader() != ""
 }
 
@@ -772,6 +781,9 @@ func (s *Store) HasLeader() bool {
 // is no reference to the current node in the current cluster configuration then
 // false will also be returned.
 func (s *Store) IsVoter() (bool, error) {
+	if !s.open {
+		return false, ErrNotOpen
+	}
 	cfg := s.raft.GetConfiguration()
 	if err := cfg.Error(); err != nil {
 		return false, err
@@ -786,6 +798,9 @@ func (s *Store) IsVoter() (bool, error) {
 
 // State returns the current node's Raft state
 func (s *Store) State() ClusterState {
+	if !s.open {
+		return Unknown
+	}
 	state := s.raft.State()
 	switch state {
 	case raft.Leader:
@@ -856,6 +871,9 @@ func (s *Store) LeaderWithID() (string, string) {
 
 // CommitIndex returns the Raft commit index.
 func (s *Store) CommitIndex() (uint64, error) {
+	if !s.open {
+		return 0, ErrNotOpen
+	}
 	return s.raft.CommitIndex(), nil
 }
 
@@ -863,6 +881,9 @@ func (s *Store) CommitIndex() (uint64, error) {
 // by the latest AppendEntries RPC. If this node is the Leader then the
 // commit index is returned directly from the Raft object.
 func (s *Store) LeaderCommitIndex() (uint64, error) {
+	if !s.open {
+		return 0, ErrNotOpen
+	}
 	if s.raft.State() == raft.Leader {
 		return s.raft.CommitIndex(), nil
 	}
diff --git a/store/store_test.go b/store/store_test.go
index c4256fae..1e3bac5f 100644
--- a/store/store_test.go
+++ b/store/store_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,47 @@ import (
 	"github.com/rqlite/rqlite/v8/testdata/chinook"
 )
 
+// Test_StoreSingleNode tests that a non-open Store handles public methods correctly.
+func Test_NonOpenStore(t *testing.T) {
+	s, ln := mustNewStore(t)
+	defer s.Close(true)
+	defer ln.Close()
+
+	if err := s.Stepdown(false); err != ErrNotOpen {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong error received for non-open store: %s", err)
+	}
+	if s.IsLeader() {
+		t.Fatalf("store incorrectly marked as leader")
+	}
+	if s.HasLeader() {
+		t.Fatalf("store incorrectly marked as having leader")
+	}
+	if _, err := s.IsVoter(); err != ErrNotOpen {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong error received for non-open store: %s", err)
+	}
+	if s.State() != Unknown {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong cluster state returned for non-open store")
+	}
+	if _, err := s.CommitIndex(); err != ErrNotOpen {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong error received for non-open store: %s", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := s.LeaderCommitIndex(); err != ErrNotOpen {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong error received for non-open store: %s", err)
+	}
+	if addr, err := s.LeaderAddr(); addr != "" || err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong leader address returned for non-open store: %s", addr)
+	}
+	if id, err := s.LeaderID(); id != "" || err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong leader ID returned for non-open store: %s", id)
+	}
+	if addr, id := s.LeaderWithID(); addr != "" || id != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong leader address and ID returned for non-open store: %s", id)
+	}
+	if _, err := s.Nodes(); err != ErrNotOpen {
+		t.Fatalf("wrong error received for non-open store: %s", err)
+	}
+}
+
 // Test_StoreSingleNode tests that a single node basically operates.
 func Test_OpenStoreSingleNode(t *testing.T) {
 	s, ln := mustNewStore(t)