diff --git a/pkg/cluster/pod.go b/pkg/cluster/pod.go
index 41705968f..3070f114b 100644
--- a/pkg/cluster/pod.go
+++ b/pkg/cluster/pod.go
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ func (c *Cluster) isSafeToRecreatePods(pods *v1.PodList) bool {
 
 	for _, pod := range pods.Items {
 		state, err := c.patroni.GetNodeState(&pod)
-		if err != nil || state != "running" {
+		if err != nil || state == "creating replica" {
 			c.logger.Warningf("cannot re-create pod %s: patroni in %s state", pod.Name, state)
 			return false
 		}