diff --git a/inc/ocf_err.h b/inc/ocf_err.h
index d7fdbb6..a6116b4 100644
--- a/inc/ocf_err.h
+++ b/inc/ocf_err.h
@@ -149,7 +149,10 @@ typedef enum {
 	/** Failed to remove the core */
 	OCF_ERR_CORE_NOT_REMOVED,
 
-	OCF_ERR_MAX = OCF_ERR_CORE_NOT_REMOVED,
+	/** Operation only allowed in standby mode **/
+	OCF_ERR_CACHE_NOT_STANDBY,
+
+	OCF_ERR_MAX = OCF_ERR_CACHE_NOT_STANDBY,
 
 } ocf_error_t;
 
diff --git a/src/cleaning/cleaning.c b/src/cleaning/cleaning.c
index 20d6cab..18587f1 100644
--- a/src/cleaning/cleaning.c
+++ b/src/cleaning/cleaning.c
@@ -97,6 +97,11 @@ void ocf_cleaner_run(ocf_cleaner_t cleaner, ocf_queue_t queue)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache)) {
+		cleaner->end(cleaner, SLEEP_TIME_MS);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/* Sleep in case there is management operation in progress. */
 	if (ocf_mngt_cache_trylock(cache)) {
 		cleaner->end(cleaner, SLEEP_TIME_MS);
diff --git a/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_cache.c b/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_cache.c
index 10ee7be..f1773b3 100644
--- a/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_cache.c
+++ b/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_cache.c
@@ -2963,6 +2963,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_cache_attach(ocf_cache_t cache,
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cfg);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, priv, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+
 	if (!cache->mngt_queue)
 		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, priv, -OCF_ERR_INVAL);
 
@@ -3070,6 +3073,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_cache_load(ocf_cache_t cache,
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cfg);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, priv, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+
 	if (!cache->mngt_queue)
 		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, priv, -OCF_ERR_INVAL);
 
@@ -3322,6 +3328,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_cache_save(ocf_cache_t cache,
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, priv, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+
 	if (!cache->mngt_queue)
 		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, priv, -OCF_ERR_INVAL);
 
@@ -3706,6 +3715,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_cache_detach(ocf_cache_t cache,
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, priv, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+
 	if (!cache->mngt_queue)
 		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, priv, -OCF_ERR_INVAL);
 
diff --git a/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_core.c b/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_core.c
index 9070390..4490bc9 100644
--- a/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_core.c
+++ b/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_core.c
@@ -559,6 +559,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_cache_add_core(ocf_cache_t cache,
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, NULL, priv, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+
 	if (!cache->mngt_queue)
 		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, NULL, priv, -OCF_ERR_INVAL);
 
@@ -735,6 +738,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_cache_remove_core(ocf_core_t core,
 
 	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+
 	if (!cache->mngt_queue)
 		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, -OCF_ERR_INVAL);
 
@@ -852,6 +858,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_cache_detach_core(ocf_core_t core,
 
 	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+
 	if (!cache->mngt_queue)
 		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, -OCF_ERR_INVAL);
 
@@ -877,11 +886,17 @@ int ocf_mngt_core_set_uuid(ocf_core_t core, const struct ocf_volume_uuid *uuid)
 	struct ocf_volume_uuid *current_uuid;
 	int result;
 	int diff;
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(core);
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(uuid);
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(uuid->data);
 
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	current_uuid = &ocf_core_get_volume(core)->uuid;
 
 	result = env_memcmp(current_uuid->data, current_uuid->size,
@@ -905,9 +920,16 @@ int ocf_mngt_core_set_uuid(ocf_core_t core, const struct ocf_volume_uuid *uuid)
 
 int ocf_mngt_core_set_user_metadata(ocf_core_t core, void *data, size_t size)
 {
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
+
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(core);
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(data);
 
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	if (size > OCF_CORE_USER_DATA_SIZE)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
@@ -917,9 +939,16 @@ int ocf_mngt_core_set_user_metadata(ocf_core_t core, void *data, size_t size)
 
 int ocf_mngt_core_get_user_metadata(ocf_core_t core, void *data, size_t size)
 {
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
+
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(core);
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(data);
 
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	if (size > sizeof(core->conf_meta->user_data))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
@@ -957,8 +986,14 @@ static int _cache_mngt_set_core_seq_cutoff_threshold(ocf_core_t core, void *cntx
 
 int ocf_mngt_core_set_seq_cutoff_threshold(ocf_core_t core, uint32_t thresh)
 {
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
+
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(core);
 
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	return _cache_mngt_set_core_seq_cutoff_threshold(core, &thresh);
 }
 
@@ -976,9 +1011,15 @@ int ocf_mngt_core_set_seq_cutoff_threshold_all(ocf_cache_t cache,
 
 int ocf_mngt_core_get_seq_cutoff_threshold(ocf_core_t core, uint32_t *thresh)
 {
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
+
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(core);
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(thresh);
 
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	*thresh = ocf_core_get_seq_cutoff_threshold(core);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1030,14 +1071,21 @@ static int _cache_mngt_set_core_seq_cutoff_policy(ocf_core_t core, void *cntx)
 int ocf_mngt_core_set_seq_cutoff_policy(ocf_core_t core,
 		ocf_seq_cutoff_policy policy)
 {
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
+
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(core);
 
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	return _cache_mngt_set_core_seq_cutoff_policy(core, &policy);
 }
 int ocf_mngt_core_set_seq_cutoff_policy_all(ocf_cache_t cache,
 		ocf_seq_cutoff_policy policy)
 {
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
+
 	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
 		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
 
@@ -1048,9 +1096,15 @@ int ocf_mngt_core_set_seq_cutoff_policy_all(ocf_cache_t cache,
 int ocf_mngt_core_get_seq_cutoff_policy(ocf_core_t core,
 		ocf_seq_cutoff_policy *policy)
 {
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
+
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(core);
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(policy);
 
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	*policy = ocf_core_get_seq_cutoff_policy(core);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1089,8 +1143,14 @@ static int _cache_mngt_set_core_seq_cutoff_promo_count(ocf_core_t core,
 int ocf_mngt_core_set_seq_cutoff_promotion_count(ocf_core_t core,
 		uint32_t count)
 {
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
+
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(core);
 
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	return _cache_mngt_set_core_seq_cutoff_promo_count(core, &count);
 }
 
@@ -1109,9 +1169,15 @@ int ocf_mngt_core_set_seq_cutoff_promotion_count_all(ocf_cache_t cache,
 int ocf_mngt_core_get_seq_cutoff_promotion_count(ocf_core_t core,
 		uint32_t *count)
 {
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
+
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(core);
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(count);
 
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	*count = ocf_core_get_seq_cutoff_promotion_count(core);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1143,8 +1209,14 @@ static int _cache_mngt_set_core_seq_cutoff_promote_on_threshold(
 int ocf_mngt_core_set_seq_cutoff_promote_on_threshold(ocf_core_t core,
 		bool promote)
 {
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
+
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(core);
 
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	return _cache_mngt_set_core_seq_cutoff_promote_on_threshold(core, &promote);
 }
 
@@ -1164,9 +1236,15 @@ int ocf_mngt_core_set_seq_cutoff_promote_on_threshold_all(ocf_cache_t cache,
 int ocf_mngt_core_get_seq_cutoff_promote_on_threshold(ocf_core_t core,
 		bool *promote)
 {
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
+
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(core);
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(promote);
 
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	*promote = ocf_core_get_seq_cutoff_promote_on_threshold(core);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_flush.c b/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_flush.c
index 440db41..a7d9460 100644
--- a/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_flush.c
+++ b/src/mngt/ocf_mngt_flush.c
@@ -110,6 +110,12 @@ static void _ocf_mngt_begin_flush(ocf_pipeline_t pipeline, void *priv,
 
 bool ocf_mngt_core_is_dirty(ocf_core_t core)
 {
+	ocf_cache_t cache;
+
+	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return false;
+
 	return !!env_atomic_read(&core->runtime_meta->dirty_clines);
 }
 
@@ -120,6 +126,9 @@ bool ocf_mngt_cache_is_dirty(ocf_cache_t cache)
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return false;
+
 	for_each_core(cache, core, core_id) {
 		if (ocf_mngt_core_is_dirty(core))
 			return true;
@@ -655,6 +664,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_cache_flush(ocf_cache_t cache,
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, priv, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+
 	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache)) {
 		ocf_cache_log(cache, log_err, "Cannot flush cache - cache is standby\n");
 		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, priv, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
@@ -749,6 +761,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_core_flush(ocf_core_t core,
 
 	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		OCF_CMPL_RET(core, priv, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+
 	if (!ocf_cache_is_device_attached(cache)) {
 		ocf_cache_log(cache, log_err, "Cannot flush core - "
 				"cache device is detached\n");
@@ -820,6 +835,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_cache_purge(ocf_cache_t cache,
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		OCF_CMPL_RET(cache, priv, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+
 	if (!cache->mngt_queue) {
 		ocf_cache_log(cache, log_err,
 				"Cannot purge cache - no flush queue set\n");
@@ -871,6 +889,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_core_purge(ocf_core_t core,
 	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
 	core_id = ocf_core_get_id(core);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		OCF_CMPL_RET(core, priv, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+
 	if (!cache->mngt_queue) {
 		ocf_core_log(core, log_err,
 				"Cannot purge core - no flush queue set\n");
@@ -902,6 +923,9 @@ void ocf_mngt_cache_flush_interrupt(ocf_cache_t cache)
 {
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return;
+
 	ocf_cache_log(cache, log_alert, "Flushing interrupt\n");
 	cache->flushing_interrupted = 1;
 }
diff --git a/src/ocf_cache.c b/src/ocf_cache.c
index 67e29ad..f5c4470 100644
--- a/src/ocf_cache.c
+++ b/src/ocf_cache.c
@@ -358,6 +358,10 @@ static void ocf_cache_volume_submit_io(struct ocf_io *io)
 		ocf_io_end(io, -OCF_ERR_IO);
 		return;
 	}
+	if (unlikely(!ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))) {
+		ocf_io_end(io, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_NOT_STANDBY);
+		return;
+	}
 
 	env_atomic_set(&priv->remaining, 3);
 	env_atomic_set(&priv->error, 0);
@@ -402,6 +406,10 @@ static void ocf_cache_volume_submit_flush(struct ocf_io *io)
 		ocf_io_end(io, -OCF_ERR_IO);
 		return;
 	}
+	if (unlikely(!ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))) {
+		ocf_io_end(io, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_NOT_STANDBY);
+		return;
+	}
 
 	env_atomic_set(&priv->remaining, 1);
 
@@ -430,6 +438,10 @@ static void ocf_cache_volume_submit_discard(struct ocf_io *io)
 		ocf_io_end(io, -OCF_ERR_IO);
 		return;
 	}
+	if (unlikely(!ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))) {
+		ocf_io_end(io, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_NOT_STANDBY);
+		return;
+	}
 
 	env_atomic_set(&priv->remaining, 1);
 
diff --git a/src/ocf_core.c b/src/ocf_core.c
index a1fcc54..d1668f8 100644
--- a/src/ocf_core.c
+++ b/src/ocf_core.c
@@ -134,6 +134,9 @@ int ocf_core_visit(ocf_cache_t cache, ocf_core_visitor_t visitor, void *cntx,
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	if (!visitor)
 		return -OCF_ERR_INVAL;
 
@@ -287,6 +290,11 @@ void ocf_core_volume_submit_io(struct ocf_io *io)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	if (unlikely(ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))) {
+		ocf_io_end(io, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	ret = ocf_req_alloc_map(req);
 	if (ret) {
 		ocf_io_end(io, ret);
@@ -348,6 +356,11 @@ static void ocf_core_volume_submit_flush(struct ocf_io *io)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	if (unlikely(ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))) {
+		ocf_io_end(io, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	req->core = core;
 	req->complete = ocf_req_complete;
 
@@ -386,6 +399,11 @@ static void ocf_core_volume_submit_discard(struct ocf_io *io)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	if (unlikely(ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))) {
+		ocf_io_end(io, -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	ret = ocf_req_alloc_map_discard(req);
 	if (ret) {
 		ocf_io_end(io, -OCF_ERR_NO_MEM);
@@ -544,6 +562,9 @@ int ocf_core_get_info(ocf_core_t core, struct ocf_core_info *info)
 
 	cache = ocf_core_get_cache(core);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	if (!info)
 		return -OCF_ERR_INVAL;
 
diff --git a/src/ocf_io_class.c b/src/ocf_io_class.c
index b856e90..3f4dabd 100644
--- a/src/ocf_io_class.c
+++ b/src/ocf_io_class.c
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ int ocf_cache_io_class_get_info(ocf_cache_t cache, uint32_t io_class,
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	if (!info)
 		return -OCF_ERR_INVAL;
 
@@ -58,6 +61,9 @@ int ocf_io_class_visit(ocf_cache_t cache, ocf_io_class_visitor_t visitor,
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	if (!visitor)
 		return -OCF_ERR_INVAL;
 
diff --git a/src/ocf_metadata.c b/src/ocf_metadata.c
index f43b61c..8531b3e 100644
--- a/src/ocf_metadata.c
+++ b/src/ocf_metadata.c
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ int ocf_metadata_check_invalid_before(ocf_cache_t cache, uint64_t addr)
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	line = ocf_atomic_addr2line(cache, addr);
 	pos = ocf_atomic_addr2pos(cache, addr);
 
@@ -86,6 +89,9 @@ int ocf_metadata_check_invalid_after(ocf_cache_t cache, uint64_t addr,
 
 	OCF_CHECK_NULL(cache);
 
+	if (ocf_cache_is_standby(cache))
+		return -OCF_ERR_CACHE_STANDBY;
+
 	line = ocf_atomic_addr2line(cache, addr + bytes);
 	pos = ocf_atomic_addr2pos(cache, addr + bytes);
 
diff --git a/tests/functional/pyocf/types/shared.py b/tests/functional/pyocf/types/shared.py
index 5ec4fbf..793b563 100644
--- a/tests/functional/pyocf/types/shared.py
+++ b/tests/functional/pyocf/types/shared.py
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ class OcfErrorCode(IntEnum):
     OCF_ERR_CORE_SIZE_MISMATCH = auto()
     OCF_ERR_STANDBY_ATTACHED = auto()
     OCF_ERR_CORE_NOT_REMOVED = auto()
+    OCF_ERR_CACHE_NOT_STANDBY = auto()
 
 
 class OcfCompletion:
diff --git a/tests/unit/tests/cleaning/cleaning.c/ocf_cleaner_run_test.c b/tests/unit/tests/cleaning/cleaning.c/ocf_cleaner_run_test.c
index d5cab95..d2d0bce 100644
--- a/tests/unit/tests/cleaning/cleaning.c/ocf_cleaner_run_test.c
+++ b/tests/unit/tests/cleaning/cleaning.c/ocf_cleaner_run_test.c
@@ -91,6 +91,11 @@ void __wrap_ocf_mngt_cache_unlock(env_rwsem *s)
 	function_called();
 }
 
+bool __wrap_ocf_cache_is_standby(ocf_cache_t cache)
+{
+        return false;
+}
+
 static void cleaner_complete(ocf_cleaner_t cleaner, uint32_t interval)
 {
 	function_called();