diff --git a/pkg/raft/raft.go b/pkg/raft/raft.go
index 500befea0fef..435572576977 100644
--- a/pkg/raft/raft.go
+++ b/pkg/raft/raft.go
@@ -995,7 +995,12 @@ func (r *raft) hup(t CampaignType) {
 		r.logger.Debugf("%x ignoring MsgHup because already leader", r.id)
 		return
 	}
-
+	// TODO(arul): we will eventually want some kind of logic like this.
+	//
+	//if r.supportingFortifiedLeader() && t != campaignTransfer {
+	//	r.logger.Debugf("%x ignoring MsgHup due to leader fortification", r.id)
+	//	return
+	//}
 	if !r.promotable() {
 		r.logger.Warningf("%x is unpromotable and can not campaign", r.id)
 		return
@@ -1009,6 +1014,21 @@ func (r *raft) hup(t CampaignType) {
 	r.campaign(t)
 }
 
+// supportingFortifiedLeader returns whether the peer is providing fortification
+// support to a leader. When a peer is providing support to a leader, it must
+// not campaign or vote to disrupt that leader's term, unless specifically asked
+// to do so by the leader.
+// TODO(arul): this is a placeholder implementation. Move it around as you see
+// fit.
+func (r *raft) supportingFortifiedLeader() bool {
+	if r.leadEpoch == 0 {
+		return false // not supporting any leader
+	}
+	assertTrue(r.lead != None, "leader epoch is set but leader is not")
+	epoch, ok := r.storeLiveness.SupportFor(r.lead)
+	return ok && epoch == r.leadEpoch
+}
+
 // errBreak is a sentinel error used to break a callback-based loop.
 var errBreak = errors.New("break")
 
@@ -1727,12 +1747,31 @@ func stepFollower(r *raft, m pb.Message) error {
 		m.To = r.lead
 		r.send(m)
 	case pb.MsgForgetLeader:
-		if r.lead != None {
-			r.logger.Infof("%x forgetting leader %x at term %d", r.id, r.lead, r.Term)
-			r.lead = None
+		// TODO(nvanbenschoten): remove MsgForgetLeader once the sole caller in
+		// Replica.maybeForgetLeaderOnVoteRequestLocked is removed. This will
+		// accompany the removal of epoch-based leases.
+		if r.lead == None {
+			r.logger.Infof("%x no leader at term %d; dropping forget leader msg", r.id, r.Term)
+			return nil
+		}
+		if r.supportingFortifiedLeader() && r.lead != m.From {
+			r.logger.Infof("%x [term %d] ignored MsgForgetLeader from %x due to leader fortification", r.id, r.Term, m.From)
+			return nil
 		}
+		r.logger.Infof("%x forgetting leader %x at term %d", r.id, r.lead, r.Term)
+		r.lead = None
 	case pb.MsgTimeoutNow:
-		r.logger.Infof("%x [term %d] received MsgTimeoutNow from %x and starts an election to get leadership.", r.id, r.Term, m.From)
+		// TODO(nvanbenschoten): we will eventually want some kind of logic like
+		// this. However, even this may not be enough, because we're calling a
+		// campaignTransfer election, which bypasses leader fortification checks. It
+		// may never be safe for MsgTimeoutNow to come from anyone but the leader.
+		// We need to think about this more.
+		//
+		//if r.supportingFortifiedLeader() && r.lead != m.From {
+		//	r.logger.Infof("%x [term %d] ignored MsgTimeoutNow from %x due to leader fortification", r.id, r.Term, m.From)
+		//	return nil
+		//}
+		r.logger.Infof("%x [term %d] received MsgTimeoutNow from %x and starts an election to get leadership", r.id, r.Term, m.From)
 		// Leadership transfers never use pre-vote even if r.preVote is true; we
 		// know we are not recovering from a partition so there is no need for the
 		// extra round trip.
diff --git a/pkg/raft/testdata/confchange_v2_replace_leader.txt b/pkg/raft/testdata/confchange_v2_replace_leader.txt
index 66fb09452538..f5e2a2c70254 100644
--- a/pkg/raft/testdata/confchange_v2_replace_leader.txt
+++ b/pkg/raft/testdata/confchange_v2_replace_leader.txt
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ stabilize
   1->4 MsgTimeoutNow Term:1 Log:0/0
 > 4 receiving messages
   1->4 MsgTimeoutNow Term:1 Log:0/0
-  INFO 4 [term 1] received MsgTimeoutNow from 1 and starts an election to get leadership.
+  INFO 4 [term 1] received MsgTimeoutNow from 1 and starts an election to get leadership
   INFO 4 is starting a new election at term 1
   INFO 4 became candidate at term 2
   INFO 4 [logterm: 1, index: 4] sent MsgVote request to 1 at term 2
diff --git a/pkg/raft/testdata/forget_leader.txt b/pkg/raft/testdata/forget_leader.txt
index 65875ca3a87a..6c44015408bc 100644
--- a/pkg/raft/testdata/forget_leader.txt
+++ b/pkg/raft/testdata/forget_leader.txt
@@ -30,6 +30,20 @@ raft-state
 3: StateFollower (Voter) Term:1 Lead:1
 4: StateFollower (Non-Voter) Term:1 Lead:1
 
+# ForgetLeader is ignored if the follower is supporting the leader's store
+# liveness epoch.
+forget-leader 2
+----
+INFO 2 [term 1] ignored MsgForgetLeader from 0 due to leader fortification
+
+withdraw-support 2 1
+----
+  1 2 3 4
+1 1 1 1 1
+2 x 1 1 1
+3 1 1 1 1
+4 1 1 1 1
+
 # ForgetLeader causes a follower to forget its leader, but remain in the current
 # term. It's a noop if it's called again.
 forget-leader 2
@@ -45,7 +59,7 @@ raft-state
 
 forget-leader 2
 ----
-ok
+INFO 2 no leader at term 1; dropping forget leader msg
 
 raft-state
 ----
@@ -54,7 +68,20 @@ raft-state
 3: StateFollower (Voter) Term:1 Lead:1
 4: StateFollower (Non-Voter) Term:1 Lead:1
 
-# ForgetLeader also works on learners.
+# ForgetLeader also works on learners, but only if they are not supporting the
+# leader's store liveness epoch.
+forget-leader 4
+----
+INFO 4 [term 1] ignored MsgForgetLeader from 0 due to leader fortification
+
+withdraw-support 4 1
+----
+  1 2 3 4
+1 1 1 1 1
+2 x 1 1 1
+3 1 1 1 1
+4 x 1 1 1
+
 forget-leader 4
 ----
 INFO 4 forgetting leader 1 at term 1
@@ -169,6 +196,14 @@ tick-heartbeat 2
 ----
 ok
 
+withdraw-support 2 3
+----
+  1 2 3 4
+1 1 1 1 1
+2 x 1 x 1
+3 1 1 1 1
+4 x 1 1 1
+
 forget-leader 2
 ----
 INFO 2 forgetting leader 3 at term 2
diff --git a/pkg/raft/testdata/forget_leader_prevote_checkquorum.txt b/pkg/raft/testdata/forget_leader_prevote_checkquorum.txt
index a929b9f1ca21..421d5120ea91 100644
--- a/pkg/raft/testdata/forget_leader_prevote_checkquorum.txt
+++ b/pkg/raft/testdata/forget_leader_prevote_checkquorum.txt
@@ -87,6 +87,19 @@ raft-state
 2: StateFollower (Voter) Term:1 Lead:1
 3: StateFollower (Voter) Term:1 Lead:1
 
+# ForgetLeader is ignored if the follower is supporting the leader's store
+# liveness epoch.
+forget-leader 2
+----
+INFO 2 [term 1] ignored MsgForgetLeader from 0 due to leader fortification
+
+withdraw-support 2 1
+----
+  1 2 3
+1 1 1 1
+2 x 1 1
+3 1 1 1
+
 # If 2 forgets the leader, then 3 can obtain prevotes and hold an election
 # despite 2 having heard from the leader recently.
 forget-leader 2
@@ -187,6 +200,13 @@ stabilize 2
   Messages:
   2->3 MsgAppResp Term:2 Log:0/13
 
+withdraw-support 2 3
+----
+  1 2 3
+1 1 1 1
+2 x 1 x
+3 1 1 1
+
 forget-leader 2
 ----
 INFO 2 forgetting leader 3 at term 2