diff --git a/src/cets_join.erl b/src/cets_join.erl
index 04aa62d4..843a98b6 100644
--- a/src/cets_join.erl
+++ b/src/cets_join.erl
@@ -68,10 +68,11 @@ join2(_Info, LocalPid, RemotePid, JoinOpts) ->
     %% We still use LocalPid/RemotePid in names
     %% (they are local and remote pids as passed from the cets_join and from the cets_discovery).
     #{opts := Opts} = cets:info(LocalPid),
-    LocalOtherPids = cets:other_pids(LocalPid),
-    RemoteOtherPids = cets:other_pids(RemotePid),
-    LocPids = [LocalPid | LocalOtherPids],
-    RemPids = [RemotePid | RemoteOtherPids],
+    LocPids = get_pids(LocalPid),
+    RemPids = get_pids(RemotePid),
+    run_step(before_check_fully_connected, JoinOpts),
+    check_fully_connected(LocPids),
+    check_fully_connected(RemPids),
     AllPids = LocPids ++ RemPids,
     Paused = [{Pid, cets:pause(Pid)} || Pid <- AllPids],
     %% Merges data from two partitions together.
@@ -82,6 +83,10 @@ join2(_Info, LocalPid, RemotePid, JoinOpts) ->
         cets:sync(RemotePid),
         {ok, LocalDump} = remote_or_local_dump(LocalPid),
         {ok, RemoteDump} = remote_or_local_dump(RemotePid),
+        %% Check that still fully connected after getting the dumps
+        %% and before making any changes
+        check_fully_connected(LocPids),
+        check_fully_connected(RemPids),
         {LocalDump2, RemoteDump2} = maybe_apply_resolver(LocalDump, RemoteDump, Opts),
         RemF = fun(Pid) -> send_dump(Pid, LocPids, JoinRef, LocalDump2, JoinOpts) end,
         LocF = fun(Pid) -> send_dump(Pid, RemPids, JoinRef, RemoteDump2, JoinOpts) end,
@@ -146,6 +151,53 @@ apply_resolver_for_sorted(
 apply_resolver_for_sorted(LocalDump, RemoteDump, _F, _Pos, LocalAcc, RemoteAcc) ->
     {lists:reverse(LocalAcc, LocalDump), lists:reverse(RemoteAcc, RemoteDump)}.
 
+get_pids(Pid) ->
+    case cets:other_pids(Pid) of
+        Pids when is_list(Pids) ->
+            [Pid | Pids];
+        Other ->
+            error({get_other_pids_failed, Pid, Other})
+    end.
+
+%% Checks that other_pids lists match for all nodes
+%% If they are not matching - the node removal process could be in progress
+check_fully_connected(Pids) ->
+    Lists = [get_pids(Pid) || Pid <- Pids],
+    case are_fully_connected_lists([Pids | Lists]) of
+        true ->
+            check_same_join_ref(Pids);
+        false ->
+            ?LOG_ERROR(#{
+                what => check_fully_connected_failed,
+                expected_pids => Pids,
+                server_lists => Lists
+            }),
+            error(check_fully_connected_failed)
+    end.
+
+%% Check that all elements of the list match (if sorted)
+are_fully_connected_lists(Lists) ->
+    length(lists:usort([lists:sort(List) || List <- Lists])) =:= 1.
+
+%% Check if all nodes have the same join_ref
+%% If not - we don't want to continue joining
+check_same_join_ref(Pids) ->
+    Refs = [pid_to_join_ref(Pid) || Pid <- Pids],
+    case lists:usort(Refs) of
+        [_] ->
+            ok;
+        _ ->
+            ?LOG_ERROR(#{
+                what => check_same_join_ref_failed,
+                refs => lists:zip(Pids, Refs)
+            }),
+            error(check_same_join_ref_failed)
+    end.
+
+pid_to_join_ref(Pid) ->
+    #{join_ref := JoinRef} = cets:info(Pid),
+    JoinRef.
+
 run_step(Step, #{step_handler := F}) ->
     F(Step);
 run_step(_Step, _Opts) ->
diff --git a/test/cets_SUITE.erl b/test/cets_SUITE.erl
index 143b37b8..293268e5 100644
--- a/test/cets_SUITE.erl
+++ b/test/cets_SUITE.erl
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ all() ->
         join_fails_before_send_dump,
         join_fails_before_send_dump_and_there_are_pending_remote_ops,
         send_dump_fails_during_join_because_receiver_exits,
+        join_fails_in_check_fully_connected,
         test_multinode,
         test_multinode_remote_insert,
         node_list_is_correct,
@@ -450,6 +451,29 @@ send_dump_fails_during_join_because_receiver_exits(Config) ->
     cets:insert(Pid1, {1}),
     {ok, [{1}]} = cets:remote_dump(Pid1).
 
+join_fails_in_check_fully_connected(Config) ->
+    Me = self(),
+    {ok, Pid1} = cets:start(make_name(Config, 1), #{}),
+    {ok, Pid2} = cets:start(make_name(Config, 2), #{}),
+    {ok, Pid3} = cets:start(make_name(Config, 3), #{}),
+    %% Pid2 and Pid3 are connected
+    ok = cets_join:join(lock_name(Config), #{}, Pid2, Pid3, #{}),
+    [Pid3] = cets:other_pids(Pid2),
+    F = fun
+        (before_check_fully_connected) ->
+            %% Ask Pid2 to remove Pid3 from the list
+            Pid2 ! {'DOWN', make_ref(), process, Pid3, sim_error},
+            %% Ensure Pid2 did the cleaning
+            pong = cets:ping(Pid2),
+            [] = cets:other_pids(Pid2),
+            Me ! before_check_fully_connected_called;
+        (_) ->
+            ok
+    end,
+    {error, {error, check_fully_connected_failed, _}} =
+        cets_join:join(lock_name(Config), #{}, Pid1, Pid2, #{step_handler => F}),
+    receive_message(before_check_fully_connected_called).
+
 test_multinode(Config) ->
     Node1 = node(),
     [Node2, Node3, Node4] = proplists:get_value(nodes, Config),