Surgical instruments and methods including a stop guard are described herein. An exemplary instrument can include an inner shaft disposed within an outer shaft, the inner shaft including a tissue-piercing tip and being effective to secure an end effector to the device. A stop guard can be coupled to the inner shaft and extend through outer shaft sidewall openings when the tip is advanced distallyor retract into the outer shaft when the tip is retracted proximally. In a percutaneous procedure, external force applied to the stop guard by the tissue can retract the tip to prevent damage to surrounding tissue as the instrument is advanced distally. Moreover, once passed through pierced tissue, the stop guard can be redeployed when the inner shaft is advanced distally to secure an end effectorto the instrument and can prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the instrument.