diff --git a/src/charm.py b/src/charm.py
index a9822fd06e..1789310523 100755
--- a/src/charm.py
+++ b/src/charm.py
@@ -588,9 +588,10 @@ def _on_peer_relation_changed(self, event: HookEvent) -> None:  # noqa: C901
                 or int(self._patroni.member_replication_lag) > 1000
             )
         ):
+            logger.warning("Workload failure detected. Reinitialising unit.")
+            self.unit.status = MaintenanceStatus("reinitialising replica")
             self._patroni.reinitialize_postgresql()
             logger.debug("Deferring on_peer_relation_changed: reinitialising replica")
-            self.unit.status = MaintenanceStatus("reinitialising replica")
             event.defer()
             return
 
@@ -1543,9 +1544,9 @@ def _handle_processes_failures(self) -> bool:
             and not self._patroni.member_streaming
         ):
             try:
-                self._patroni.reinitialize_postgresql()
-                logger.info("restarted the replica because it was not streaming from primary")
+                logger.warning("Degraded member detected: reinitialising unit")
                 self.unit.status = MaintenanceStatus("reinitialising replica")
+                self._patroni.reinitialize_postgresql()
             except RetryError:
                 logger.error(
                     "failed to reinitialise replica after checking that it was not streaming from primary"
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_charm.py b/tests/unit/test_charm.py
index 5ad1f11914..cf5783b54c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_charm.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_charm.py
@@ -1578,9 +1578,7 @@ def test_handle_processes_failures(harness):
             harness.charm.unit.status = ActiveStatus()
             result = harness.charm._handle_processes_failures()
             assert result == (values[0] is None)
-            assert isinstance(
-                harness.charm.unit.status, MaintenanceStatus if values[0] is None else ActiveStatus
-            )
+            assert isinstance(harness.charm.unit.status, MaintenanceStatus)
             _restart.assert_not_called()
             _reinitialize_postgresql.assert_called_once()