diff --git a/consul/state_store.go b/consul/state_store.go
index 6a43aa0270..80870ac5a8 100644
--- a/consul/state_store.go
+++ b/consul/state_store.go
@@ -377,13 +377,20 @@ func (s *StateStore) QueryTables(q string) MDBTables {
 
 // EnsureNode is used to ensure a given node exists, with the provided address
 func (s *StateStore) EnsureNode(index uint64, node structs.Node) error {
-	// Start a new txn
 	tx, err := s.nodeTable.StartTxn(false, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	defer tx.Abort()
+	if err := s.ensureNodeTxn(index, node, tx); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return tx.Commit()
+}
 
+// ensureNodeTxn is used to ensure a given node exists, with the provided address
+// within a given txn
+func (s *StateStore) ensureNodeTxn(index uint64, node structs.Node, tx *MDBTxn) error {
 	if err := s.nodeTable.InsertTxn(tx, node); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -391,7 +398,7 @@ func (s *StateStore) EnsureNode(index uint64, node structs.Node) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	tx.Defer(func() { s.watch[s.nodeTable].Notify() })
-	return tx.Commit()
+	return nil
 }
 
 // GetNode returns all the address of the known and if it was found
@@ -428,7 +435,14 @@ func (s *StateStore) EnsureService(index uint64, node string, ns *structs.NodeSe
 		panic(fmt.Errorf("Failed to start txn: %v", err))
 	}
 	defer tx.Abort()
+	if err := s.ensureServiceTxn(index, node, ns, tx); err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return tx.Commit()
+}
 
+// ensureServiceTxn is used to ensure a given node exposes a service in a transaction
+func (s *StateStore) ensureServiceTxn(index uint64, node string, ns *structs.NodeService, tx *MDBTxn) error {
 	// Ensure the node exists
 	res, err := s.nodeTable.GetTxn(tx, "id", node)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -455,7 +469,7 @@ func (s *StateStore) EnsureService(index uint64, node string, ns *structs.NodeSe
 		return err
 	}
 	tx.Defer(func() { s.watch[s.serviceTable].Notify() })
-	return tx.Commit()
+	return nil
 }
 
 // NodeServices is used to return all the services of a given node
@@ -699,17 +713,23 @@ func (s *StateStore) parseServiceNodes(tx *MDBTxn, table *MDBTable, res []interf
 
 // EnsureCheck is used to create a check or updates it's state
 func (s *StateStore) EnsureCheck(index uint64, check *structs.HealthCheck) error {
-	// Ensure we have a status
-	if check.Status == "" {
-		check.Status = structs.HealthUnknown
-	}
-
-	// Start the txn
 	tx, err := s.tables.StartTxn(false)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(fmt.Errorf("Failed to start txn: %v", err))
 	}
 	defer tx.Abort()
+	if err := s.ensureCheckTxn(index, check, tx); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return tx.Commit()
+}
+
+// ensureCheckTxn is used to create a check or updates it's state in a transaction
+func (s *StateStore) ensureCheckTxn(index uint64, check *structs.HealthCheck, tx *MDBTxn) error {
+	// Ensure we have a status
+	if check.Status == "" {
+		check.Status = structs.HealthUnknown
+	}
 
 	// Ensure the node exists
 	res, err := s.nodeTable.GetTxn(tx, "id", check.Node)
@@ -750,7 +770,7 @@ func (s *StateStore) EnsureCheck(index uint64, check *structs.HealthCheck) error
 		return err
 	}
 	tx.Defer(func() { s.watch[s.checkTable].Notify() })
-	return tx.Commit()
+	return nil
 }
 
 // DeleteNodeCheck is used to delete a node health check