diff --git a/go/cmd/vttablet/cli/cli_test.go b/go/cmd/vttablet/cli/cli_test.go
index 603234b3c64..c88ebd1b8ae 100644
--- a/go/cmd/vttablet/cli/cli_test.go
+++ b/go/cmd/vttablet/cli/cli_test.go
@@ -32,9 +32,6 @@ import (
 // When starting, the TabletManager checks if it needs to restore, in tm.handleRestore but this step will
 // fail if we do not provide a cnf file and if the flag --restore_from_backup is provided.
 func TestRunFailsToStartTabletManager(t *testing.T) {
-	// Skipping the test for now, the test is unveiling some race conditions in the code.
-	// While working on a fix, this test will be skipped: https://github.com/vitessio/vitess/pull/17165
-	t.Skip()
 	ts, factory := memorytopo.NewServerAndFactory(context.Background(), "cell")
 	topo.RegisterFactory("test", factory)
 
diff --git a/go/vt/topo/cell_info.go b/go/vt/topo/cell_info.go
index 4a8112084cb..960d0a8e0ae 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/cell_info.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/cell_info.go
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ func pathForCellInfo(cell string) string {
 // GetCellInfoNames returns the names of the existing cells. They are
 // sorted by name.
 func (ts *Server) GetCellInfoNames(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	}
 	entries, err := ts.globalCell.ListDir(ctx, CellsPath, false /*full*/)
 	switch {
 	case IsErrType(err, NoNode):
@@ -59,10 +62,10 @@ func (ts *Server) GetCellInfoNames(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
 
 // GetCellInfo reads a CellInfo from the global Conn.
 func (ts *Server) GetCellInfo(ctx context.Context, cell string, strongRead bool) (*topodatapb.CellInfo, error) {
-	conn := ts.globalCell
 	if ctx.Err() != nil {
 		return nil, ctx.Err()
 	}
+	conn := ts.globalCell
 	if !strongRead {
 		conn = ts.globalReadOnlyCell
 	}
@@ -83,6 +86,9 @@ func (ts *Server) GetCellInfo(ctx context.Context, cell string, strongRead bool)
 
 // CreateCellInfo creates a new CellInfo with the provided content.
 func (ts *Server) CreateCellInfo(ctx context.Context, cell string, ci *topodatapb.CellInfo) error {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
 	// Pack the content.
 	contents, err := ci.MarshalVT()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -103,6 +109,10 @@ func (ts *Server) CreateCellInfo(ctx context.Context, cell string, ci *topodatap
 func (ts *Server) UpdateCellInfoFields(ctx context.Context, cell string, update func(*topodatapb.CellInfo) error) error {
 	filePath := pathForCellInfo(cell)
 	for {
+		if ctx.Err() != nil {
+			return ctx.Err()
+		}
+
 		ci := &topodatapb.CellInfo{}
 
 		// Read the file, unpack the contents.
@@ -142,6 +152,9 @@ func (ts *Server) UpdateCellInfoFields(ctx context.Context, cell string, update
 // We first try to make sure no Shard record points to the cell,
 // but we'll continue regardless if 'force' is true.
 func (ts *Server) DeleteCellInfo(ctx context.Context, cell string, force bool) error {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
 	srvKeyspaces, err := ts.GetSrvKeyspaceNames(ctx, cell)
 	switch {
 	case err == nil:
@@ -180,6 +193,10 @@ func (ts *Server) DeleteCellInfo(ctx context.Context, cell string, force bool) e
 // TODO(alainjobart) once the cell map is migrated to this generic
 // package, we can do better than this.
 func (ts *Server) GetKnownCells(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	// Note we use the global read-only cell here, as the result
 	// is not time sensitive.
 	entries, err := ts.globalReadOnlyCell.ListDir(ctx, CellsPath, false /*full*/)
diff --git a/go/vt/topo/cells_aliases.go b/go/vt/topo/cells_aliases.go
index 683fa08f6ba..4d5161ffe38 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/cells_aliases.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/cells_aliases.go
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ func pathForCellsAlias(alias string) string {
 // GetCellsAliases returns the names of the existing cells. They are
 // sorted by name.
 func (ts *Server) GetCellsAliases(ctx context.Context, strongRead bool) (ret map[string]*topodatapb.CellsAlias, err error) {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	}
 	conn := ts.globalCell
 	if !strongRead {
 		conn = ts.globalReadOnlyCell
@@ -75,6 +78,9 @@ func (ts *Server) GetCellsAliases(ctx context.Context, strongRead bool) (ret map
 
 // GetCellsAlias returns the CellsAlias that matches the given name.
 func (ts *Server) GetCellsAlias(ctx context.Context, name string, strongRead bool) (*topodatapb.CellsAlias, error) {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	}
 	conn := ts.globalCell
 	if !strongRead {
 		conn = ts.globalReadOnlyCell
@@ -97,6 +103,9 @@ func (ts *Server) GetCellsAlias(ctx context.Context, name string, strongRead boo
 
 // DeleteCellsAlias deletes the specified CellsAlias
 func (ts *Server) DeleteCellsAlias(ctx context.Context, alias string) error {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
 	ts.clearCellAliasesCache()
 
 	filePath := pathForCellsAlias(alias)
@@ -123,6 +132,9 @@ func (ts *Server) CreateCellsAlias(ctx context.Context, alias string, cellsAlias
 	}
 
 	// Save it.
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
 	filePath := pathForCellsAlias(alias)
 	_, err = ts.globalCell.Create(ctx, filePath, contents)
 	return err
@@ -134,6 +146,10 @@ func (ts *Server) UpdateCellsAlias(ctx context.Context, alias string, update fun
 
 	filePath := pathForCellsAlias(alias)
 	for {
+		if ctx.Err() != nil {
+			return ctx.Err()
+		}
+
 		cellsAlias := &topodatapb.CellsAlias{}
 
 		// Read the file, unpack the contents.
diff --git a/go/vt/topo/external_vitess_cluster.go b/go/vt/topo/external_vitess_cluster.go
index a7d0a69bf2c..936a30a4533 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/external_vitess_cluster.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/external_vitess_cluster.go
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ func GetExternalVitessClusterPath(clusterName string) string {
 
 // CreateExternalVitessCluster creates a topo record for the passed vitess cluster
 func (ts *Server) CreateExternalVitessCluster(ctx context.Context, clusterName string, value *topodatapb.ExternalVitessCluster) error {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
 	data, err := value.MarshalVT()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -66,6 +69,9 @@ func (ts *Server) CreateExternalVitessCluster(ctx context.Context, clusterName s
 
 // GetExternalVitessCluster returns a topo record for the named vitess cluster
 func (ts *Server) GetExternalVitessCluster(ctx context.Context, clusterName string) (*ExternalVitessClusterInfo, error) {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	}
 	data, version, err := ts.globalCell.Get(ctx, GetExternalVitessClusterPath(clusterName))
 	switch {
 	case IsErrType(err, NoNode):
@@ -88,7 +94,10 @@ func (ts *Server) GetExternalVitessCluster(ctx context.Context, clusterName stri
 
 // UpdateExternalVitessCluster updates the topo record for the named vitess cluster
 func (ts *Server) UpdateExternalVitessCluster(ctx context.Context, vc *ExternalVitessClusterInfo) error {
-	//FIXME: check for cluster lock
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+	// FIXME: check for cluster lock
 	data, err := vc.ExternalVitessCluster.MarshalVT()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -109,6 +118,9 @@ func (ts *Server) UpdateExternalVitessCluster(ctx context.Context, vc *ExternalV
 
 // DeleteExternalVitessCluster deletes the topo record for the named vitess cluster
 func (ts *Server) DeleteExternalVitessCluster(ctx context.Context, clusterName string) error {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
 	if err := ts.globalCell.Delete(ctx, GetExternalVitessClusterPath(clusterName), nil); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -123,6 +135,9 @@ func (ts *Server) DeleteExternalVitessCluster(ctx context.Context, clusterName s
 
 // GetExternalVitessClusters returns the list of external vitess clusters in the topology.
 func (ts *Server) GetExternalVitessClusters(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	}
 	children, err := ts.globalCell.ListDir(ctx, GetExternalVitessClusterDir(), false /*full*/)
 	switch {
 	case err == nil:
diff --git a/go/vt/topo/keyspace.go b/go/vt/topo/keyspace.go
index 08b1c59f4cc..743d8fd6dc0 100755
--- a/go/vt/topo/keyspace.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/keyspace.go
@@ -88,6 +88,10 @@ func ValidateKeyspaceName(name string) error {
 // CreateKeyspace wraps the underlying Conn.Create
 // and dispatches the event.
 func (ts *Server) CreateKeyspace(ctx context.Context, keyspace string, value *topodatapb.Keyspace) error {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	if err := ValidateKeyspaceName(keyspace); err != nil {
 		return vterrors.Wrapf(err, "CreateKeyspace: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -112,6 +116,10 @@ func (ts *Server) CreateKeyspace(ctx context.Context, keyspace string, value *to
 
 // GetKeyspace reads the given keyspace and returns it
 func (ts *Server) GetKeyspace(ctx context.Context, keyspace string) (*KeyspaceInfo, error) {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	if err := ValidateKeyspaceName(keyspace); err != nil {
 		return nil, vterrors.Wrapf(err, "GetKeyspace: %s", err)
 	}
@@ -169,6 +177,10 @@ func (ts *Server) GetThrottlerConfig(ctx context.Context, keyspace string) (*top
 
 // UpdateKeyspace updates the keyspace data. It checks the keyspace is locked.
 func (ts *Server) UpdateKeyspace(ctx context.Context, ki *KeyspaceInfo) error {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	// make sure it is locked first
 	if err := CheckKeyspaceLocked(ctx, ki.keyspace); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -207,6 +219,10 @@ type FindAllShardsInKeyspaceOptions struct {
 // If opt is non-nil, it is used to configure the method's behavior. Otherwise,
 // the default options are used.
 func (ts *Server) FindAllShardsInKeyspace(ctx context.Context, keyspace string, opt *FindAllShardsInKeyspaceOptions) (map[string]*ShardInfo, error) {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	// Apply any necessary defaults.
 	if opt == nil {
 		opt = &FindAllShardsInKeyspaceOptions{}
@@ -372,6 +388,10 @@ func (ts *Server) GetOnlyShard(ctx context.Context, keyspace string) (*ShardInfo
 // DeleteKeyspace wraps the underlying Conn.Delete
 // and dispatches the event.
 func (ts *Server) DeleteKeyspace(ctx context.Context, keyspace string) error {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	keyspacePath := path.Join(KeyspacesPath, keyspace, KeyspaceFile)
 	if err := ts.globalCell.Delete(ctx, keyspacePath, nil); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -393,6 +413,10 @@ func (ts *Server) DeleteKeyspace(ctx context.Context, keyspace string) error {
 
 // GetKeyspaces returns the list of keyspaces in the topology.
 func (ts *Server) GetKeyspaces(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	children, err := ts.globalCell.ListDir(ctx, KeyspacesPath, false /*full*/)
 	switch {
 	case err == nil:
@@ -406,6 +430,10 @@ func (ts *Server) GetKeyspaces(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
 
 // GetShardNames returns the list of shards in a keyspace.
 func (ts *Server) GetShardNames(ctx context.Context, keyspace string) ([]string, error) {
+	if ctx.Err() != nil {
+		return nil, ctx.Err()
+	}
+
 	shardsPath := path.Join(KeyspacesPath, keyspace, ShardsPath)
 	children, err := ts.globalCell.ListDir(ctx, shardsPath, false /*full*/)
 	if IsErrType(err, NoNode) {
diff --git a/go/vt/topo/locks.go b/go/vt/topo/locks.go
index f46e5f06e4b..967d3f7f2e4 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/locks.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/locks.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package topo
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"os"
 	"os/user"
 	"sync"
@@ -175,6 +176,12 @@ func (l *Lock) lock(ctx context.Context, ts *Server, lt iTopoLock, opts ...LockO
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if ts.globalCell == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("no global cell connection on the topo server")
+	}
 	switch l.Options.lockType {
 	case NonBlocking:
 		return ts.globalCell.TryLock(ctx, lt.Path(), j)
diff --git a/go/vt/topo/metadata.go b/go/vt/topo/metadata.go
index 4d24630a309..1c569f3fb10 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/metadata.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/metadata.go
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ import (
 
 // UpsertMetadata sets the key/value in the metadata if it doesn't exist, otherwise it updates the content
 func (ts *Server) UpsertMetadata(ctx context.Context, key string, val string) error {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	keyPath := path.Join(MetadataPath, key)
 
 	_, _, err := ts.globalCell.Get(ctx, keyPath)
@@ -52,6 +56,10 @@ func (ts *Server) UpsertMetadata(ctx context.Context, key string, val string) er
 
 // GetMetadata retrieves all metadata value that matches the given key regular expression. If empty all values are returned.
 func (ts *Server) GetMetadata(ctx context.Context, keyFilter string) (map[string]string, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	keys, err := ts.globalCell.ListDir(ctx, MetadataPath, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -77,6 +85,10 @@ func (ts *Server) GetMetadata(ctx context.Context, keyFilter string) (map[string
 
 // DeleteMetadata deletes the key in the metadata
 func (ts *Server) DeleteMetadata(ctx context.Context, key string) error {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	keyPath := path.Join(MetadataPath, key)
 
 	// nil version means that it will insert if keyPath does not exist
@@ -89,6 +101,10 @@ func (ts *Server) DeleteMetadata(ctx context.Context, key string) error {
 }
 
 func (ts *Server) getMetadata(ctx context.Context, key string) (string, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
 	keyPath := path.Join(MetadataPath, key)
 	contents, _, err := ts.globalCell.Get(ctx, keyPath)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/go/vt/topo/server.go b/go/vt/topo/server.go
index a0dba42006d..4a3c2e6bb27 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/server.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/server.go
@@ -262,11 +262,12 @@ func Open() *Server {
 // ConnForCell returns a Conn object for the given cell.
 // It caches Conn objects from previously requested cells.
 func (ts *Server) ConnForCell(ctx context.Context, cell string) (Conn, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	// Global cell is the easy case.
 	if cell == GlobalCell {
-		if ctx.Err() != nil {
-			return nil, ctx.Err()
-		}
 		return ts.globalCell, nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/go/vt/topo/shard.go b/go/vt/topo/shard.go
index 974a4fdbc6a..7df6dc64b88 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/shard.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/shard.go
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ func (si *ShardInfo) SetPrimaryTermStartTime(t time.Time) {
 // GetShard is a high level function to read shard data.
 // It generates trace spans.
 func (ts *Server) GetShard(ctx context.Context, keyspace, shard string) (*ShardInfo, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	if err := ValidateKeyspaceName(keyspace); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -201,6 +205,10 @@ func (ts *Server) updateShard(ctx context.Context, si *ShardInfo) error {
 	span.Annotate("shard", si.shardName)
 	defer span.Finish()
 
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	data, err := si.Shard.MarshalVT()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -252,6 +260,10 @@ func (ts *Server) UpdateShardFields(ctx context.Context, keyspace, shard string,
 // This will lock the Keyspace, as we may be looking at other shard servedTypes.
 // Using GetOrCreateShard is probably a better idea for most use cases.
 func (ts *Server) CreateShard(ctx context.Context, keyspace, shard string) (err error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	if err := ValidateKeyspaceName(keyspace); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -355,6 +367,10 @@ func (ts *Server) GetOrCreateShard(ctx context.Context, keyspace, shard string)
 // DeleteShard wraps the underlying conn.Delete
 // and dispatches the event.
 func (ts *Server) DeleteShard(ctx context.Context, keyspace, shard string) error {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	shardPath := shardFilePath(keyspace, shard)
 	if err := ts.globalCell.Delete(ctx, shardPath, nil); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -728,6 +744,10 @@ type WatchShardData struct {
 // It has the same contract as conn.Watch, but it also unpacks the
 // contents into a Shard object
 func (ts *Server) WatchShard(ctx context.Context, keyspace, shard string) (*WatchShardData, <-chan *WatchShardData, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
 	shardPath := shardFilePath(keyspace, shard)
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 
diff --git a/go/vt/topo/vschema.go b/go/vt/topo/vschema.go
index d9802da2c35..21192e1aacb 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/vschema.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/vschema.go
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ import (
 // SaveVSchema saves a Vschema. A valid Vschema should be passed in. It does not verify its correctness.
 // If the VSchema is empty, just remove it.
 func (ts *Server) SaveVSchema(ctx context.Context, keyspace string, vschema *vschemapb.Keyspace) error {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	nodePath := path.Join(KeyspacesPath, keyspace, VSchemaFile)
 	data, err := vschema.MarshalVT()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -49,12 +53,19 @@ func (ts *Server) SaveVSchema(ctx context.Context, keyspace string, vschema *vsc
 // DeleteVSchema delete the keyspace if it exists
 func (ts *Server) DeleteVSchema(ctx context.Context, keyspace string) error {
 	log.Infof("deleting vschema for keyspace %s", keyspace)
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	nodePath := path.Join(KeyspacesPath, keyspace, VSchemaFile)
 	return ts.globalCell.Delete(ctx, nodePath, nil)
 }
 
 // GetVSchema fetches the vschema from the topo.
 func (ts *Server) GetVSchema(ctx context.Context, keyspace string) (*vschemapb.Keyspace, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	nodePath := path.Join(KeyspacesPath, keyspace, VSchemaFile)
 	data, _, err := ts.globalCell.Get(ctx, nodePath)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -90,6 +101,10 @@ func (ts *Server) EnsureVSchema(ctx context.Context, keyspace string) error {
 
 // SaveRoutingRules saves the routing rules into the topo.
 func (ts *Server) SaveRoutingRules(ctx context.Context, routingRules *vschemapb.RoutingRules) error {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	data, err := routingRules.MarshalVT()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -109,6 +124,10 @@ func (ts *Server) SaveRoutingRules(ctx context.Context, routingRules *vschemapb.
 
 // GetRoutingRules fetches the routing rules from the topo.
 func (ts *Server) GetRoutingRules(ctx context.Context) (*vschemapb.RoutingRules, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	rr := &vschemapb.RoutingRules{}
 	data, _, err := ts.globalCell.Get(ctx, RoutingRulesFile)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -126,6 +145,10 @@ func (ts *Server) GetRoutingRules(ctx context.Context) (*vschemapb.RoutingRules,
 
 // SaveShardRoutingRules saves the shard routing rules into the topo.
 func (ts *Server) SaveShardRoutingRules(ctx context.Context, shardRoutingRules *vschemapb.ShardRoutingRules) error {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	data, err := shardRoutingRules.MarshalVT()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -144,6 +167,10 @@ func (ts *Server) SaveShardRoutingRules(ctx context.Context, shardRoutingRules *
 
 // GetShardRoutingRules fetches the shard routing rules from the topo.
 func (ts *Server) GetShardRoutingRules(ctx context.Context) (*vschemapb.ShardRoutingRules, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	srr := &vschemapb.ShardRoutingRules{}
 	data, _, err := ts.globalCell.Get(ctx, ShardRoutingRulesFile)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -161,6 +188,10 @@ func (ts *Server) GetShardRoutingRules(ctx context.Context) (*vschemapb.ShardRou
 
 // CreateKeyspaceRoutingRules wraps the underlying Conn.Create.
 func (ts *Server) CreateKeyspaceRoutingRules(ctx context.Context, value *vschemapb.KeyspaceRoutingRules) error {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	data, err := value.MarshalVT()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -189,6 +220,10 @@ func (ts *Server) CreateKeyspaceRoutingRules(ctx context.Context, value *vschema
 // we may come up with a better model and apply it to the keyspace routing rules
 // as well.
 func (ts *Server) SaveKeyspaceRoutingRules(ctx context.Context, rules *vschemapb.KeyspaceRoutingRules) error {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	data, err := rules.MarshalVT()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -198,6 +233,10 @@ func (ts *Server) SaveKeyspaceRoutingRules(ctx context.Context, rules *vschemapb
 }
 
 func (ts *Server) GetKeyspaceRoutingRules(ctx context.Context) (*vschemapb.KeyspaceRoutingRules, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	rules := &vschemapb.KeyspaceRoutingRules{}
 	data, _, err := ts.globalCell.Get(ctx, ts.GetKeyspaceRoutingRulesPath())
 	if err != nil {
@@ -215,6 +254,10 @@ func (ts *Server) GetKeyspaceRoutingRules(ctx context.Context) (*vschemapb.Keysp
 
 // GetMirrorRules fetches the mirror rules from the topo.
 func (ts *Server) GetMirrorRules(ctx context.Context) (*vschemapb.MirrorRules, error) {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	rr := &vschemapb.MirrorRules{}
 	data, _, err := ts.globalCell.Get(ctx, MirrorRulesFile)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -232,6 +275,10 @@ func (ts *Server) GetMirrorRules(ctx context.Context) (*vschemapb.MirrorRules, e
 
 // SaveMirrorRules saves the mirror rules into the topo.
 func (ts *Server) SaveMirrorRules(ctx context.Context, mirrorRules *vschemapb.MirrorRules) error {
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	data, err := mirrorRules.MarshalVT()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err