diff --git a/server/raft.go b/server/raft.go
index 76597d8d66..f6aa114730 100644
--- a/server/raft.go
+++ b/server/raft.go
@@ -4228,7 +4228,9 @@ func (n *raft) switchToCandidate() {
 	defer n.Unlock()
 
 	// If we are catching up or are in observer mode we can not switch.
-	if n.observer || n.paused {
+	// Avoid petitioning to become leader if we're behind on applies.
+	if n.observer || n.paused || n.applied < n.commit {
+		n.resetElect(minElectionTimeout / 4)
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/server/raft_test.go b/server/raft_test.go
index 1a6c5e8387..86882b7d9a 100644
--- a/server/raft_test.go
+++ b/server/raft_test.go
@@ -1499,3 +1499,89 @@ func TestNRGDontRemoveSnapshotIfTruncateToApplied(t *testing.T) {
 	require_NoError(t, err)
 	require_Equal(t, len(files), 1)
 }
+
+func TestNRGDontSwitchToCandidateWithInflightSnapshot(t *testing.T) {
+	n, cleanup := initSingleMemRaftNode(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	// Create a sample snapshot entry, the content doesn't matter.
+	snapshotEntries := []*Entry{
+		newEntry(EntrySnapshot, nil),
+		newEntry(EntryPeerState, encodePeerState(&peerState{n.peerNames(), n.csz, n.extSt})),
+	}
+
+	nats0 := "S1Nunr6R" // "nats-0"
+
+	// Timeline.
+	aeTriggerCatchup := encode(t, &appendEntry{leader: nats0, term: 1, commit: 1, pterm: 1, pindex: 1, entries: nil})
+	aeCatchupSnapshot := encode(t, &appendEntry{leader: nats0, term: 1, commit: 1, pterm: 1, pindex: 1, entries: snapshotEntries})
+
+	// Switch follower into catchup.
+	n.processAppendEntry(aeTriggerCatchup, n.aesub)
+	require_True(t, n.catchup != nil)
+	require_Equal(t, n.catchup.pterm, 0)  // n.pterm
+	require_Equal(t, n.catchup.pindex, 0) // n.pindex
+
+	// Follower receives a snapshot, marking a snapshot as inflight as the apply queue is async.
+	n.processAppendEntry(aeCatchupSnapshot, n.catchup.sub)
+	require_Equal(t, n.pindex, 1)
+	require_Equal(t, n.commit, 1)
+
+	// Try to switch to candidate, it should be blocked since the snapshot is not processed yet.
+	n.switchToCandidate()
+	require_Equal(t, n.State(), Follower)
+
+	// Simulate snapshot being processed by the upper layer.
+	n.Applied(1)
+
+	// Retry becoming candidate, snapshot is processed so can now do so.
+	n.switchToCandidate()
+	require_Equal(t, n.State(), Candidate)
+}
+
+func TestNRGDontSwitchToCandidateWithMultipleInflightSnapshots(t *testing.T) {
+	n, cleanup := initSingleMemRaftNode(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	// Create a sample snapshot entry, the content doesn't matter.
+	snapshotEntries := []*Entry{
+		newEntry(EntrySnapshot, nil),
+		newEntry(EntryPeerState, encodePeerState(&peerState{n.peerNames(), n.csz, n.extSt})),
+	}
+
+	nats0 := "S1Nunr6R" // "nats-0"
+
+	// Timeline.
+	aeSnapshot1 := encode(t, &appendEntry{leader: nats0, term: 1, commit: 0, pterm: 0, pindex: 0, entries: snapshotEntries})
+	aeSnapshot2 := encode(t, &appendEntry{leader: nats0, term: 1, commit: 1, pterm: 1, pindex: 1, entries: snapshotEntries})
+	aeHeartbeat := encode(t, &appendEntry{leader: nats0, term: 1, commit: 2, pterm: 1, pindex: 2, entries: nil})
+
+	// Simulate snapshots being sent to us.
+	n.processAppendEntry(aeSnapshot1, n.aesub)
+	require_Equal(t, n.pindex, 1)
+	require_Equal(t, n.commit, 0)
+	require_Equal(t, n.applied, 0)
+
+	n.processAppendEntry(aeSnapshot2, n.aesub)
+	require_Equal(t, n.pindex, 2)
+	require_Equal(t, n.commit, 1)
+	require_Equal(t, n.applied, 0)
+
+	n.processAppendEntry(aeHeartbeat, n.aesub)
+	require_Equal(t, n.pindex, 2)
+	require_Equal(t, n.commit, 2)
+	require_Equal(t, n.applied, 0)
+
+	for i := uint64(1); i <= 2; i++ {
+		// Try to switch to candidate, it should be blocked since the snapshot is not processed yet.
+		n.switchToCandidate()
+		require_Equal(t, n.State(), Follower)
+
+		// Simulate snapshot being processed by the upper layer.
+		n.Applied(i)
+	}
+
+	// Retry becoming candidate, all snapshots processed so can now do so.
+	n.switchToCandidate()
+	require_Equal(t, n.State(), Candidate)
+}