diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 354d10a45..b83f6e2b1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -84,3 +84,4 @@
 * [BUGFIX] stringslicecsv: handle unmarshalling empty yaml string #206
 * [BUGFIX] Memberlist: retry joining memberlist cluster on startup when no nodes are resolved. #215
 * [BUGFIX] Ring status page: display 100% ownership as "100%", rather than "1e+02%". #231
+* [BUGFIX] Memberlist: fix crash when methods from `memberlist.Delegate` interface are called on `*memberlist.KV` before the service is fully started. #244
diff --git a/kv/memberlist/memberlist_client.go b/kv/memberlist/memberlist_client.go
index 390eca606..d18b6d452 100644
--- a/kv/memberlist/memberlist_client.go
+++ b/kv/memberlist/memberlist_client.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-kit/log/level"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/memberlist"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
+	"go.uber.org/atomic"
 
 	"github.com/grafana/dskit/backoff"
 	"github.com/grafana/dskit/flagext"
@@ -233,9 +234,9 @@ type KV struct {
 	provider DNSProvider
 
 	// Protects access to memberlist and broadcasts fields.
-	initWG     sync.WaitGroup
-	memberlist *memberlist.Memberlist
-	broadcasts *memberlist.TransmitLimitedQueue
+	delegateReady atomic.Bool
+	memberlist    *memberlist.Memberlist
+	broadcasts    *memberlist.TransmitLimitedQueue
 
 	// KV Store.
 	storeMu sync.Mutex
@@ -451,7 +452,6 @@ func (m *KV) starting(ctx context.Context) error {
 	//
 	// Note: We cannot check for Starting state, as we want to use delegate during cluster joining process
 	// that happens in Starting state.
-	m.initWG.Add(1)
 	list, err := memberlist.Create(mlCfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create memberlist: %v", err)
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ func (m *KV) starting(ctx context.Context) error {
 		NumNodes:       list.NumMembers,
 		RetransmitMult: mlCfg.RetransmitMult,
 	}
-	m.initWG.Done()
+	m.delegateReady.Store(true)
 
 	// Try to fast-join memberlist cluster in Starting state, so that we don't start with empty KV store.
 	if len(m.cfg.JoinMembers) > 0 {
@@ -992,6 +992,10 @@ func (m *KV) NodeMeta(limit int) []byte {
 // NotifyMsg is method from Memberlist Delegate interface
 // Called when single message is received, i.e. what our broadcastNewValue has sent.
 func (m *KV) NotifyMsg(msg []byte) {
+	if !m.delegateReady.Load() {
+		return
+	}
+
 	m.numberOfReceivedMessages.Inc()
 	m.totalSizeOfReceivedMessages.Add(float64(len(msg)))
 
@@ -1101,7 +1105,9 @@ func (m *KV) queueBroadcast(key string, content []string, version uint, message
 // GetBroadcasts is method from Memberlist Delegate interface
 // It returns all pending broadcasts (within the size limit)
 func (m *KV) GetBroadcasts(overhead, limit int) [][]byte {
-	m.initWG.Wait()
+	if !m.delegateReady.Load() {
+		return nil
+	}
 
 	return m.broadcasts.GetBroadcasts(overhead, limit)
 }
@@ -1112,7 +1118,9 @@ func (m *KV) GetBroadcasts(overhead, limit int) [][]byte {
 // Here we dump our entire state -- all keys and their values. There is no limit on message size here,
 // as Memberlist uses 'stream' operations for transferring this state.
 func (m *KV) LocalState(join bool) []byte {
-	m.initWG.Wait()
+	if !m.delegateReady.Load() {
+		return nil
+	}
 
 	m.numberOfPulls.Inc()
 
@@ -1184,9 +1192,11 @@ func (m *KV) LocalState(join bool) []byte {
 //
 // Data is full state of remote KV store, as generated by LocalState method (run on another node).
 func (m *KV) MergeRemoteState(data []byte, join bool) {
-	received := time.Now()
+	if !m.delegateReady.Load() {
+		return
+	}
 
-	m.initWG.Wait()
+	received := time.Now()
 
 	m.numberOfPushes.Inc()
 	m.totalSizeOfPushes.Add(float64(len(data)))
diff --git a/kv/memberlist/memberlist_client_test.go b/kv/memberlist/memberlist_client_test.go
index eefcd617f..e45001a92 100644
--- a/kv/memberlist/memberlist_client_test.go
+++ b/kv/memberlist/memberlist_client_test.go
@@ -1435,6 +1435,49 @@ func TestFastJoin(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, JOINING, val.(*data).Members[memberKey].State)
 }
 
+func TestDelegateMethodsDontCrashBeforeKVStarts(t *testing.T) {
+	codec := dataCodec{}
+
+	cfg := KVConfig{}
+	cfg.Codecs = append(cfg.Codecs, codec)
+
+	kv := NewKV(cfg, log.NewNopLogger(), &dnsProviderMock{}, prometheus.NewPedanticRegistry())
+
+	// Make sure we can call delegate methods on unstarted service, and they don't crash nor block.
+	kv.LocalState(true)
+	kv.MergeRemoteState(nil, true)
+	kv.GetBroadcasts(100, 100)
+
+	now := time.Now()
+	msg := &data{
+		Members: map[string]member{
+			"a": {Timestamp: now.Unix() - 5, State: ACTIVE, Tokens: []uint32{}},
+			"b": {Timestamp: now.Unix() + 5, State: ACTIVE, Tokens: []uint32{1, 2, 3}},
+			"c": {Timestamp: now.Unix(), State: ACTIVE, Tokens: []uint32{}},
+		}}
+
+	kv.NotifyMsg(marshalKeyValuePair(t, key, codec, msg))
+
+	// Verify that message was not added to KV.
+	time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 100)
+	val, err := kv.Get(key, codec)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Nil(t, val)
+
+	// Now start the service, and try NotifyMsg again
+	require.NoError(t, services.StartAndAwaitRunning(context.Background(), kv))
+	defer services.StopAndAwaitTerminated(context.Background(), kv) //nolint:errcheck
+
+	kv.NotifyMsg(marshalKeyValuePair(t, key, codec, msg))
+
+	// Wait until processing finished, and check the message again.
+	time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 100)
+
+	val, err = kv.Get(key, codec)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, msg, val)
+}
+
 func decodeDataFromMarshalledKeyValuePair(t *testing.T, marshalledKVP []byte, key string, codec dataCodec) *data {
 	kvp := KeyValuePair{}
 	require.NoError(t, kvp.Unmarshal(marshalledKVP))