Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to transactions. In aspects, a consistency requester such as a shadow copy service requests to have a consistent view of a set of resources. In response, transactions that are in a problematic state are allowed to exit the problematic state while new and existing transactions that are not in the problematic state are allowed to perform any work except work that takes them into the problematic state. After no transactions are in the problematic state, a consistent view of the set of resources is available. This view may be used by the consistency requester as desired. Afterwards, the consistency requester may indicate that a consistent view is no longer needed. Transactions are then allowed to enter the problematic state. Transactions may also be allowed to enter the problematic state if a timeout elapses.