Backup operations for shared volumes are described. A shared volume is identified as used by a virtual machine scheduled for a backup operation by a first distributed system node. A second distributed system node is identified that has a responsibility for sending control signals to the shared volume. An association is saved of the second distributed system node to the shared volume. The responsibility for sending control signals to the shared volume is assigned to the first distributed system node. The backup operation is executed for the shared volume by the first distributed system node. The responsibility for sending control signals to the shared volume is assigned to the second distributed system node.