diff --git a/WHATS_NEW b/WHATS_NEW
index 1c8838c4e..04229da85 100644
--- a/WHATS_NEW
+++ b/WHATS_NEW
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 Version 2.02.177 -
 ====================================
+  Eliminate redundant nested VG metadata in VG struct.
   Avoid importing persistent filter in vgscan/pvscan/vgrename.
   Fix memleak of string buffer when vgcfgbackup runs in secure mode.
   Do not print error when clvmd cannot find running clvmd.
diff --git a/lib/metadata/metadata.c b/lib/metadata/metadata.c
index 56c11e608..a14dfa64f 100644
--- a/lib/metadata/metadata.c
+++ b/lib/metadata/metadata.c
@@ -897,46 +897,41 @@ int vgcreate_params_validate(struct cmd_context *cmd,
 	return 1;
 }
 
+static void _vg_wipe_cached_precommitted(struct volume_group *vg)
+{
+	release_vg(vg->vg_precommitted);
+	vg->vg_precommitted = NULL;
+}
+
+static void _vg_move_cached_precommitted_to_committed(struct volume_group *vg)
+{
+	release_vg(vg->vg_committed);
+	vg->vg_committed = vg->vg_precommitted;
+	vg->vg_precommitted = NULL;
+}
+
 /*
  * Update content of precommitted VG
  *
  * TODO: Optimize in the future, since lvmetad needs similar
  *       config tree processing in lvmetad_vg_update().
  */
-static int _vg_update_vg_precommitted(struct volume_group *vg)
+static int _vg_update_embedded_copy(struct volume_group *vg, struct volume_group **vg_embedded)
 {
-	struct dm_config_tree *cft_precommitted;
+	struct dm_config_tree *cft;
 
-	release_vg(vg->vg_precommitted);
-	vg->vg_precommitted = NULL;
+	_vg_wipe_cached_precommitted(vg);
 
 	/* Copy the VG using an export followed by import */
-	if (!(cft_precommitted = export_vg_to_config_tree(vg)))
+	if (!(cft = export_vg_to_config_tree(vg)))
 		return_0;
 
-	if (!(vg->vg_precommitted = import_vg_from_config_tree(cft_precommitted, vg->fid))) {
-		dm_config_destroy(cft_precommitted);
+	if (!(*vg_embedded = import_vg_from_config_tree(cft, vg->fid))) {
+		dm_config_destroy(cft);
 		return_0;
 	}
 
-	dm_config_destroy(cft_precommitted);
-
-	return 1;
-}
-
-static int _vg_update_vg_committed(struct volume_group *vg)
-{
-	if (dm_pool_locked(vg->vgmem))
-		return 1;
-
-	if (vg->vg_committed || is_orphan_vg(vg->name)) /* we already have it */
-		return 1;
-
-	if (!_vg_update_vg_precommitted(vg))
-		return_0;
-
-	vg->vg_committed = vg->vg_precommitted;
-	vg->vg_precommitted = NULL;
+	dm_config_destroy(cft);
 
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -949,7 +944,6 @@ static struct volume_group *_vg_make_handle(struct cmd_context *cmd,
 					    struct volume_group *vg,
 					    uint32_t failure)
 {
-
 	/* Never return a cached VG structure for a failure */
 	if (vg && vg->vginfo && failure != SUCCESS) {
 		release_vg(vg);
@@ -961,8 +955,13 @@ static struct volume_group *_vg_make_handle(struct cmd_context *cmd,
 
 	vg->read_status = failure;
 
-	if (vg->fid && !_vg_update_vg_committed(vg))
-		vg->read_status |= FAILED_ALLOCATION;
+	/*
+	 * If we hold a write lock and might be changing the VG contents, embed a pristine 
+	 * copy of the VG metadata for the activation code to use later
+	 */
+	if (vg->fid && !dm_pool_locked(vg->vgmem) && !vg->vg_committed && !is_orphan_vg(vg->name))
+		if (vg_write_lock_held() && !_vg_update_embedded_copy(vg, &vg->vg_committed))
+			vg->read_status |= FAILED_ALLOCATION;
 
 	return vg;
 }
@@ -3092,7 +3091,7 @@ int vg_write(struct volume_group *vg)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!_vg_update_vg_precommitted(vg)) /* prepare precommited */
+	if (!_vg_update_embedded_copy(vg, &vg->vg_precommitted)) /* prepare precommited */
 		return_0;
 
 	lockd_vg_update(vg);
@@ -3177,9 +3176,7 @@ int vg_commit(struct volume_group *vg)
 			pvl->pv->status &= ~PV_MOVED_VG;
 
 		/* This *is* the original now that it's commited. */
-		release_vg(vg->vg_committed);
-		vg->vg_committed = vg->vg_precommitted;
-		vg->vg_precommitted = NULL;
+		_vg_move_cached_precommitted_to_committed(vg);
 	}
 
 	/* If update failed, remove any cached precommitted metadata. */
@@ -3212,8 +3209,7 @@ void vg_revert(struct volume_group *vg)
 		}
 	}
 
-	release_vg(vg->vg_precommitted);  /* VG is no longer needed */
-	vg->vg_precommitted = NULL;
+	_vg_wipe_cached_precommitted(vg); /* VG is no longer needed */
 
 	dm_list_iterate_items(mda, &vg->fid->metadata_areas_in_use) {
 		if (mda->ops->vg_revert &&