diff --git a/pkg/cluster/sync.go b/pkg/cluster/sync.go
index f5ae30b81..420b4995f 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/sync.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/sync.go
@@ -428,6 +428,10 @@ func (c *Cluster) syncSecrets() error {
 func (c *Cluster) syncRoles() (err error) {
 	c.setProcessName("syncing roles")
 
+	if c.Spec.StandbyCluster != nil {
+		c.logger.Info("no need to sync roles for standby cluster")
+		return nil
+	}
 	var (
 		dbUsers   spec.PgUserMap
 		userNames []string