diff --git a/lib/src/store.rs b/lib/src/store.rs
index e07c27d14..46d899224 100644
--- a/lib/src/store.rs
+++ b/lib/src/store.rs
@@ -18,8 +18,11 @@ pub struct Store {
     default_agent: Arc<Mutex<Option<crate::agents::Agent>>>,
 }
 
+/// The URL used for stores that are not accessible on the web.
+pub const LOCAL_STORE_URL_STR: &str = "local:store";
+
 lazy_static::lazy_static! {
-    static ref LOCAL_STORE_URL: Url = Url::parse("local:store").unwrap();
+    static ref LOCAL_STORE_URL: Url = Url::parse(LOCAL_STORE_URL_STR).unwrap();
 }
 
 impl Store {
diff --git a/lib/src/storelike.rs b/lib/src/storelike.rs
index f461839a8..29f6bb8a1 100644
--- a/lib/src/storelike.rs
+++ b/lib/src/storelike.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use crate::{
     errors::AtomicError,
     hierarchy,
     schema::{Class, Property},
+    store::LOCAL_STORE_URL_STR,
     values::query_value_compare,
 };
 use crate::{errors::AtomicResult, parse::parse_json_ad_string};
@@ -223,6 +224,9 @@ pub trait Storelike: Sized {
     /// the answer should always be `true`.
     fn is_external_subject(&self, subject: &str) -> AtomicResult<bool> {
         if let Some(self_url) = self.get_self_url() {
+            if self_url.as_str() == LOCAL_STORE_URL_STR {
+                return Ok(true);
+            }
             if subject.starts_with(&self_url.as_str()) {
                 return Ok(false);
             } else {