diff --git a/api.go b/api.go
index d8623716f..a9e7e9026 100644
--- a/api.go
+++ b/api.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"strconv"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	metrics "github.com/armon/go-metrics"
@@ -138,6 +139,10 @@ type Raft struct {
 	// the log/snapshot.
 	configurations configurations
 
+	// Holds a copy of the latest configuration which can be read
+	// independently from main loop.
+	latestConfiguration atomic.Value
+
 	// RPC chan comes from the transport layer
 	rpcCh <-chan RPC
 
@@ -603,18 +608,17 @@ func (r *Raft) restoreSnapshot() error {
 		r.setLastSnapshot(snapshot.Index, snapshot.Term)
 
 		// Update the configuration
+		var conf Configuration
+		var index uint64
 		if snapshot.Version > 0 {
-			r.configurations.committed = snapshot.Configuration
-			r.configurations.committedIndex = snapshot.ConfigurationIndex
-			r.configurations.latest = snapshot.Configuration
-			r.configurations.latestIndex = snapshot.ConfigurationIndex
+			conf = snapshot.Configuration
+			index = snapshot.ConfigurationIndex
 		} else {
-			configuration := decodePeers(snapshot.Peers, r.trans)
-			r.configurations.committed = configuration
-			r.configurations.committedIndex = snapshot.Index
-			r.configurations.latest = configuration
-			r.configurations.latestIndex = snapshot.Index
+			conf = decodePeers(snapshot.Peers, r.trans)
+			index = snapshot.Index
 		}
+		r.setCommittedConfiguration(conf, index)
+		r.setLatestConfiguration(conf, index)
 
 		// Success!
 		return nil
@@ -746,19 +750,14 @@ func (r *Raft) VerifyLeader() Future {
 	}
 }
 
-// GetConfiguration returns the latest configuration and its associated index
-// currently in use. This may not yet be committed. This must not be called on
-// the main thread (which can access the information directly).
+// GetConfiguration returns the latest configuration. This may not yet be
+// committed. The main loop can access this directly.
 func (r *Raft) GetConfiguration() ConfigurationFuture {
 	configReq := &configurationsFuture{}
 	configReq.init()
-	select {
-	case <-r.shutdownCh:
-		configReq.respond(ErrRaftShutdown)
-		return configReq
-	case r.configurationsCh <- configReq:
-		return configReq
-	}
+	configReq.configurations = configurations{latest: r.getLatestConfiguration()}
+	configReq.respond(nil)
+	return configReq
 }
 
 // AddPeer (deprecated) is used to add a new peer into the cluster. This must be
diff --git a/raft.go b/raft.go
index bdac6e149..81ed3a87a 100644
--- a/raft.go
+++ b/raft.go
@@ -623,8 +623,7 @@ func (r *Raft) leaderLoop() {
 			// value.
 			if r.configurations.latestIndex > oldCommitIndex &&
 				r.configurations.latestIndex <= commitIndex {
-				r.configurations.committed = r.configurations.latest
-				r.configurations.committedIndex = r.configurations.latestIndex
+				r.setCommittedConfiguration(r.configurations.latest, r.configurations.latestIndex)
 				if !hasVote(r.configurations.committed, r.localID) {
 					stepDown = true
 				}
@@ -1043,8 +1042,7 @@ func (r *Raft) appendConfigurationEntry(future *configurationChangeFuture) {
 
 	r.dispatchLogs([]*logFuture{&future.logFuture})
 	index := future.Index()
-	r.configurations.latest = configuration
-	r.configurations.latestIndex = index
+	r.setLatestConfiguration(configuration, index)
 	r.leaderState.commitment.setConfiguration(configuration)
 	r.startStopReplication()
 }
@@ -1329,8 +1327,7 @@ func (r *Raft) appendEntries(rpc RPC, a *AppendEntriesRequest) {
 					return
 				}
 				if entry.Index <= r.configurations.latestIndex {
-					r.configurations.latest = r.configurations.committed
-					r.configurations.latestIndex = r.configurations.committedIndex
+					r.setLatestConfiguration(r.configurations.committed, r.configurations.committedIndex)
 				}
 				newEntries = a.Entries[i:]
 				break
@@ -1365,8 +1362,7 @@ func (r *Raft) appendEntries(rpc RPC, a *AppendEntriesRequest) {
 		idx := min(a.LeaderCommitIndex, r.getLastIndex())
 		r.setCommitIndex(idx)
 		if r.configurations.latestIndex <= idx {
-			r.configurations.committed = r.configurations.latest
-			r.configurations.committedIndex = r.configurations.latestIndex
+			r.setCommittedConfiguration(r.configurations.latest, r.configurations.latestIndex)
 		}
 		r.processLogs(idx, nil)
 		metrics.MeasureSince([]string{"raft", "rpc", "appendEntries", "processLogs"}, start)
@@ -1383,15 +1379,11 @@ func (r *Raft) appendEntries(rpc RPC, a *AppendEntriesRequest) {
 // called from the main thread, or from NewRaft() before any threads have begun.
 func (r *Raft) processConfigurationLogEntry(entry *Log) {
 	if entry.Type == LogConfiguration {
-		r.configurations.committed = r.configurations.latest
-		r.configurations.committedIndex = r.configurations.latestIndex
-		r.configurations.latest = DecodeConfiguration(entry.Data)
-		r.configurations.latestIndex = entry.Index
+		r.setCommittedConfiguration(r.configurations.latest, r.configurations.latestIndex)
+		r.setLatestConfiguration(DecodeConfiguration(entry.Data), entry.Index)
 	} else if entry.Type == LogAddPeerDeprecated || entry.Type == LogRemovePeerDeprecated {
-		r.configurations.committed = r.configurations.latest
-		r.configurations.committedIndex = r.configurations.latestIndex
-		r.configurations.latest = decodePeers(entry.Data, r.trans)
-		r.configurations.latestIndex = entry.Index
+		r.setCommittedConfiguration(r.configurations.latest, r.configurations.latestIndex)
+		r.setLatestConfiguration(decodePeers(entry.Data, r.trans), entry.Index)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1606,10 +1598,8 @@ func (r *Raft) installSnapshot(rpc RPC, req *InstallSnapshotRequest) {
 	r.setLastSnapshot(req.LastLogIndex, req.LastLogTerm)
 
 	// Restore the peer set
-	r.configurations.latest = reqConfiguration
-	r.configurations.latestIndex = reqConfigurationIndex
-	r.configurations.committed = reqConfiguration
-	r.configurations.committedIndex = reqConfigurationIndex
+	r.setLatestConfiguration(reqConfiguration, reqConfigurationIndex)
+	r.setCommittedConfiguration(reqConfiguration, reqConfigurationIndex)
 
 	// Compact logs, continue even if this fails
 	if err := r.compactLogs(req.LastLogIndex); err != nil {
@@ -1796,3 +1786,30 @@ func (r *Raft) timeoutNow(rpc RPC, req *TimeoutNowRequest) {
 	r.candidateFromLeadershipTransfer = true
 	rpc.Respond(&TimeoutNowResponse{}, nil)
 }
+
+// setLatestConfiguration stores the latest configuration and updates a copy of it.
+func (r *Raft) setLatestConfiguration(c Configuration, i uint64) {
+	r.configurations.latest = c
+	r.configurations.latestIndex = i
+	r.latestConfiguration.Store(c.Clone())
+}
+
+// setCommittedConfiguration stores the committed configuration.
+func (r *Raft) setCommittedConfiguration(c Configuration, i uint64) {
+	r.configurations.committed = c
+	r.configurations.committedIndex = i
+}
+
+// getLatestConfiguration reads the configuration from a copy of the main
+// configuration, which means it can be accessed independently from the main
+// loop.
+func (r *Raft) getLatestConfiguration() Configuration {
+	// this switch catches the case where this is called without having set
+	// a configuration previously.
+	switch c := r.latestConfiguration.Load().(type) {
+	case Configuration:
+		return c
+	default:
+		return Configuration{}
+	}
+}