diff --git a/src/core/ddsc/include/dds/dds.h b/src/core/ddsc/include/dds/dds.h
index 5a7484683a..27aeb79dba 100644
--- a/src/core/ddsc/include/dds/dds.h
+++ b/src/core/ddsc/include/dds/dds.h
@@ -1103,6 +1103,51 @@ dds_create_domain(const dds_domainid_t domain, const char *config);
 DDS_EXPORT dds_entity_t
 dds_create_domain_with_rawconfig(const dds_domainid_t domain, const struct ddsi_config *config);
 
+/// @brief Supported lifecycle states
+/// @ingroup domain
+typedef enum dds_domain_lifecycle{
+  DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_INITIALISATION,
+  DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_OPERATIONAL
+} dds_domain_lifecycle_t;
+
+/// @brief Function to indicate where we are in the domain's lifecycle
+/// @note Domains starts out in the INITIALISATION
+/// state. The only transition currently allowed is to set it OPERATIONAL.
+/// The transition is currently only possible when applied to all domains via
+/// the `DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE`.
+///
+/// @param[in] domain The domain entity for which to set the lifecycle state. Only accepts `DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE`.
+/// @param[in] state The new state
+/// @return a dds_retcode_t indicating success or failure
+/// @retval DDS_RETCODE_OK transition was successful
+/// @retval DDS_RETCODE_ERROR Internal error prevented the transition. Should not be possible.
+/// @retval DDS_RETCODE_ILLEGAL_OPERATION handle refers to a non-domain entity
+/// @retval DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET attempt at an disallowed transition
+/// @retval DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET Cyclone DDS has not been initialised yet
+DDS_EXPORT
+dds_return_t dds_set_domain_lifecycle (
+  const dds_entity_t domain,
+  const enum dds_domain_lifecycle state);
+
+/// @brief Get the status of the domain lifecycle
+///
+/// The domain life-cycle state represents the operational phase of the domain. Currently
+/// the supported states are:
+///
+///     * Initialisation
+///     * Operational
+///
+/// @param[in] domain The domain entity for which to get the life-cycle state for. Only accepts `DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE`.
+/// @param[out] state The life-cycle state for the provided domain.
+/// @return a dds_retcode_t indicating success or failure
+/// @retval DDS_RETCODE_SUCCESS The state was successfully retrieved.
+/// @retval DDS_RETCODE_BAD_PARAMETER An incorrect domain provided. Only supports `DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE` currently.
+/// @retval DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET An invalid pointer was provided for getting the state.
+DDS_EXPORT
+dds_return_t dds_get_domain_lifecycle(
+  const dds_entity_t domain,
+  enum dds_domain_lifecycle *state);
+
 /**
  * @brief Get entity parent.
  * @ingroup entity
diff --git a/src/core/ddsc/src/dds_domain.c b/src/core/ddsc/src/dds_domain.c
index 68a332553b..9a856c252a 100644
--- a/src/core/ddsc/src/dds_domain.c
+++ b/src/core/ddsc/src/dds_domain.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "dds/features.h"
+#include "dds/ddsrt/cdtors.h"
 #include "dds/ddsrt/process.h"
 #include "dds/ddsrt/heap.h"
 #include "dds/ddsrt/hopscotch.h"
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "dds__psmx.h"
 
 static dds_return_t dds_domain_free (dds_entity *vdomain);
+static enum dds_domain_lifecycle LIFECYCLE_STATE = DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_INITIALISATION;
 
 const struct dds_entity_deriver dds_entity_deriver_domain = {
   .interrupt = dds_entity_deriver_dummy_interrupt,
@@ -439,6 +441,54 @@ void dds_write_set_batch (bool enable)
   dds_entity_unpin_and_drop_ref (&dds_global.m_entity);
 }
 
+dds_return_t dds_set_domain_lifecycle(const dds_entity_t domain, const enum dds_domain_lifecycle state) {
+    dds_return_t result = DDS_RETCODE_ERROR;
+    if (dds_init () < 0) {
+        result = DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET;
+    } else {
+        if (DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE == domain) {
+            switch (state) {
+            case DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_OPERATIONAL:
+                // Only initialisation->operational is valid
+                if (LIFECYCLE_STATE == DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_INITIALISATION) {
+                  result = ddsrt_lock();
+                  if (result == DDS_RETCODE_OK) {
+                    LIFECYCLE_STATE = state;
+                  } // else result is the error from ddsrt_lock()
+                } else { // only allow init->operational
+                  result = DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET;
+                }
+                break;
+            case DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_INITIALISATION:
+                result = DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET;
+                break;
+            default: // for MISRA compliance, no fall through :(
+                result = DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET;
+                break;
+            }
+        } else {
+          result = DDS_RETCODE_ILLEGAL_OPERATION;
+        }
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+dds_return_t dds_get_domain_lifecycle(const dds_entity_t domain, enum dds_domain_lifecycle *state) {
+  dds_return_t result = DDS_RETCODE_OK;
+  if (NULL == state) {
+    result = DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET;
+  } else {
+    if (DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE == domain) {
+      *state = LIFECYCLE_STATE;
+    } else {
+      result = DDS_RETCODE_BAD_PARAMETER;
+    }
+  }
+  return result;
+}
+
+
+
 #ifdef DDS_HAS_TYPE_DISCOVERY
 
 dds_return_t dds_get_typeobj (dds_entity_t entity, const dds_typeid_t *type_id, dds_duration_t timeout, dds_typeobj_t **type_obj)
@@ -489,5 +539,4 @@ dds_return_t dds_free_typeobj (dds_typeobj_t *type_obj)
   (void) type_obj;
   return DDS_RETCODE_UNSUPPORTED;
 }
-
 #endif /* DDS_HAS_TYPE_DISCOVERY */
diff --git a/src/core/ddsc/tests/domain.c b/src/core/ddsc/tests/domain.c
index fd0af73070..a63f63025f 100644
--- a/src/core/ddsc/tests/domain.c
+++ b/src/core/ddsc/tests/domain.c
@@ -393,3 +393,47 @@ CU_Test(ddsc_domain_create, raw_config)
   ddsrt_free (arg_raw.buf);
 }
 
+CU_Test(ddsc_domain_lifecycle, basic_transition)
+{
+    dds_domain_lifecycle_t lifecycle_state = -1;
+    dds_return_t retval = dds_get_domain_lifecycle(DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE, &lifecycle_state);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(retval, DDS_RETCODE_OK);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(lifecycle_state, DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_INITIALISATION);
+    
+    retval = dds_set_domain_lifecycle(DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE, DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_OPERATIONAL);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(retval, DDS_RETCODE_OK);
+    retval = dds_get_domain_lifecycle(DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE, &lifecycle_state);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(retval, DDS_RETCODE_OK);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(lifecycle_state, DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_OPERATIONAL);
+}
+
+CU_Test(ddsc_domain_lifecycle, invalid_transitions)
+{
+    dds_domain_lifecycle_t lifecycle_state = -1;
+    
+    // Null check, get
+    dds_return_t retval = dds_get_domain_lifecycle(DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE, NULL);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(retval, DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET);
+    
+    // Invalid handle, get
+    retval = dds_get_domain_lifecycle(0, &lifecycle_state);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(retval, DDS_RETCODE_BAD_PARAMETER);
+    
+    // Invalid init->init transition
+    retval = dds_set_domain_lifecycle(DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE, DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_INITIALISATION);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(retval, DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET);
+    
+    // Invalid handle, set
+    retval = dds_set_domain_lifecycle(0, DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_OPERATIONAL);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(retval, DDS_RETCODE_ILLEGAL_OPERATION);
+    
+    // Invalid operatational->init transition
+    retval = dds_set_domain_lifecycle(DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE, DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_OPERATIONAL);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(retval, DDS_RETCODE_OK);
+    retval = dds_set_domain_lifecycle(DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE, DDS_DOMAIN_LIFECYCLE_INITIALISATION);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(retval, DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET);
+    
+    // Nonexistent state
+    retval = dds_set_domain_lifecycle(DDS_CYCLONEDDS_HANDLE, 3);
+    CU_ASSERT_EQUAL(retval, DDS_RETCODE_PRECONDITION_NOT_MET);
+}
diff --git a/src/core/xtests/symbol_export/symbol_export.c b/src/core/xtests/symbol_export/symbol_export.c
index 1a70c8c00c..2b7308a7e0 100644
--- a/src/core/xtests/symbol_export/symbol_export.c
+++ b/src/core/xtests/symbol_export/symbol_export.c
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ int main (int argc, char **argv)
   dds_create_participant (0, ptr, ptr);
   dds_create_domain (0, ptr);
   dds_create_domain_with_rawconfig (0, ptr);
+  dds_set_domain_lifecycle(0,0);
+  dds_get_domain_lifecycle(0,ptr);
   dds_get_parent (1);
   dds_get_participant (1);
   dds_get_children (1, ptr, 0);
diff --git a/src/ddsrt/include/dds/ddsrt/cdtors.h b/src/ddsrt/include/dds/ddsrt/cdtors.h
index 996809a9dd..0989295212 100644
--- a/src/ddsrt/include/dds/ddsrt/cdtors.h
+++ b/src/ddsrt/include/dds/ddsrt/cdtors.h
@@ -42,6 +42,14 @@ void ddsrt_init(void);
  * (when the reference count is 1) actually finalizes it.
  */
 void ddsrt_fini(void);
+///
+/// @brief Lock the pooled memory allocator
+///
+dds_return_t ddsrt_lock(void);
+
+/// @brief Unlock the pooled memory allocator
+///
+dds_return_t ddsrt_unlock(void);
 
 /**
  * @brief Get a pointer to the global 'init_mutex'
diff --git a/src/ddsrt/src/cdtors.c b/src/ddsrt/src/cdtors.c
index 8cbf279463..f6a1ac442c 100644
--- a/src/ddsrt/src/cdtors.c
+++ b/src/ddsrt/src/cdtors.c
@@ -86,6 +86,16 @@ void ddsrt_fini (void)
   }
 }
 
+dds_return_t ddsrt_lock (void) {
+  dds_return_t dds_result = DDS_RETCODE_OK;
+  return dds_result;
+}
+
+dds_return_t ddsrt_unlock (void) {
+  dds_return_t dds_result = DDS_RETCODE_OK;
+  return dds_result;
+}
+
 ddsrt_mutex_t *ddsrt_get_singleton_mutex(void)
 {
   return &init_mutex;