diff --git a/src/datastore_access.hpp b/src/datastore_access.hpp
index b29e152..3012a7e 100644
--- a/src/datastore_access.hpp
+++ b/src/datastore_access.hpp
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@
     std::string m_what;
 };
 
+enum class DatastoreTarget {
+    Startup,
+    Running,
+    Operational
+};
+
 class Schema;
 
 struct dataPath_;
@@ -51,6 +57,7 @@
     virtual void deleteItem(const std::string& path) = 0;
     virtual void moveItem(const std::string& path, std::variant<yang::move::Absolute, yang::move::Relative> move) = 0;
     virtual Tree execute(const std::string& path, const Tree& input) = 0;
+    void setTarget(const DatastoreTarget target);
 
     virtual std::shared_ptr<Schema> schema() = 0;
 
@@ -59,6 +66,9 @@
     virtual void copyConfig(const Datastore source, const Datastore destination) = 0;
     [[nodiscard]] virtual std::string dump(const DataFormat format) const = 0;
 
+protected:
+    DatastoreTarget m_target = DatastoreTarget::Operational;
+
 private:
     friend class DataQuery;
     virtual std::vector<ListInstance> listInstances(const std::string& path) = 0;