diff --git a/server/jetstream_cluster.go b/server/jetstream_cluster.go
index 5053e680db..e7756cd114 100644
--- a/server/jetstream_cluster.go
+++ b/server/jetstream_cluster.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright 2020-2023 The NATS Authors
+// Copyright 2020-2024 The NATS Authors
 // Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 // you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 // You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -432,10 +432,10 @@ func (cc *jetStreamCluster) isStreamCurrent(account, stream string) bool {
 }
 
 // Restart the stream in question.
-// Should only be called when the stream is know in a bad state.
+// Should only be called when the stream is known to be in a bad state.
 func (js *jetStream) restartStream(acc *Account, csa *streamAssignment) {
 	js.mu.Lock()
-	cc := js.cluster
+	s, cc := js.srv, js.cluster
 	if cc == nil {
 		js.mu.Unlock()
 		return
@@ -458,9 +458,18 @@ func (js *jetStream) restartStream(acc *Account, csa *streamAssignment) {
 		}
 		rg.node = nil
 	}
+	sinceCreation := time.Since(sa.Created)
 	js.mu.Unlock()
 
 	// Process stream assignment to recreate.
+	// Check that we have given system enough time to start us up.
+	// This will be longer than obvious, and matches consumer logic in case system very busy.
+	if sinceCreation < 10*time.Second {
+		s.Debugf("Not restarting missing stream '%s > %s', too soon since creation %v",
+			acc, csa.Config.Name, sinceCreation)
+		return
+	}
+
 	js.processStreamAssignment(sa)
 
 	// If we had consumers assigned to this server they will be present in the copy, csa.
@@ -569,13 +578,24 @@ func (js *jetStream) isConsumerHealthy(mset *stream, consumer string, ca *consum
 	// When we try to restart we nil out the node if applicable
 	// and reprocess the consumer assignment.
 	restartConsumer := func() {
+		mset.mu.RLock()
+		accName, streamName := mset.acc.GetName(), mset.cfg.Name
+		mset.mu.RUnlock()
+
 		js.mu.Lock()
+		deleted := ca.deleted
+		// Check that we have not just been created.
+		if !deleted && time.Since(ca.Created) < 10*time.Second {
+			s.Debugf("Not restarting missing consumer '%s > %s > %s', too soon since creation %v",
+				accName, streamName, consumer, time.Since(ca.Created))
+			js.mu.Unlock()
+			return
+		}
 		// Make sure the node is stopped if still running.
 		if node != nil && node.State() != Closed {
 			node.Stop()
 		}
 		ca.Group.node = nil
-		deleted := ca.deleted
 		js.mu.Unlock()
 		if !deleted {
 			js.processConsumerAssignment(ca)
@@ -4112,6 +4132,7 @@ func (js *jetStream) processConsumerRemoval(ca *consumerAssignment) {
 			// Make sure this removal is for what we have, otherwise ignore.
 			if ca.Group != nil && oca.Group != nil && ca.Group.Name == oca.Group.Name {
 				needDelete = true
+				oca.deleted = true
 				delete(sa.consumers, ca.Name)
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/server/jetstream_cluster_3_test.go b/server/jetstream_cluster_3_test.go
index dec767ef7f..a269523c1b 100644
--- a/server/jetstream_cluster_3_test.go
+++ b/server/jetstream_cluster_3_test.go
@@ -3786,7 +3786,7 @@ func TestJetStreamClusterHealthzCheckForStoppedAssets(t *testing.T) {
 	// Wait for exit.
 	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 
-	checkFor(t, 5*time.Second, 500*time.Millisecond, func() error {
+	checkFor(t, 15*time.Second, 500*time.Millisecond, func() error {
 		hs := s.healthz(nil)
 		if hs.Error != _EMPTY_ {
 			return errors.New(hs.Error)
diff --git a/server/norace_test.go b/server/norace_test.go
index 2866d05484..83c4ea8e07 100644
--- a/server/norace_test.go
+++ b/server/norace_test.go
@@ -9390,3 +9390,127 @@ func TestNoRaceJetStreamClusterStreamCatchupLargeInteriorDeletes(t *testing.T) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Msgs not equal %d vs %d", state.Msgs, si.State.Msgs)
 	})
 }
+
+func TestNoRaceJetStreamClusterBadRestartsWithHealthzPolling(t *testing.T) {
+	c := createJetStreamClusterExplicit(t, "R3S", 3)
+	defer c.shutdown()
+
+	nc, js := jsClientConnect(t, c.randomServer())
+	defer nc.Close()
+
+	cfg := &nats.StreamConfig{
+		Name:     "TEST",
+		Subjects: []string{"foo.>"},
+		Replicas: 3,
+	}
+	_, err := js.AddStream(cfg)
+	require_NoError(t, err)
+
+	// We will poll healthz at a decent clip and make sure any restart logic works
+	// correctly with assets coming and going.
+	ch := make(chan struct{})
+	defer close(ch)
+
+	go func() {
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-ch:
+				return
+			case <-time.After(50 * time.Millisecond):
+				for _, s := range c.servers {
+					s.healthz(nil)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
+	numConsumers := 500
+	consumers := make([]string, 0, numConsumers)
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+
+	for i := 0; i < numConsumers; i++ {
+		cname := fmt.Sprintf("CONS-%d", i+1)
+		consumers = append(consumers, cname)
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			_, err := js.PullSubscribe("foo.>", cname, nats.BindStream("TEST"))
+			require_NoError(t, err)
+		}()
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+
+	// Make sure all are reported.
+	checkFor(t, 5*time.Second, 100*time.Millisecond, func() error {
+		for _, s := range c.servers {
+			jsz, _ := s.Jsz(nil)
+			if jsz.Consumers != numConsumers {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%v wrong number of consumers: %d vs %d", s, jsz.Consumers, numConsumers)
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	// Now do same for streams.
+	numStreams := 200
+	streams := make([]string, 0, numStreams)
+
+	for i := 0; i < numStreams; i++ {
+		sname := fmt.Sprintf("TEST-%d", i+1)
+		streams = append(streams, sname)
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func() {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			_, err := js.AddStream(&nats.StreamConfig{Name: sname, Replicas: 3})
+			require_NoError(t, err)
+		}()
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+
+	// Make sure all are reported.
+	checkFor(t, 5*time.Second, 100*time.Millisecond, func() error {
+		for _, s := range c.servers {
+			jsz, _ := s.Jsz(nil)
+			if jsz.Streams != numStreams+1 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%v wrong number of streams: %d vs %d", s, jsz.Streams, numStreams+1)
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	// Delete consumers.
+	for _, cname := range consumers {
+		err := js.DeleteConsumer("TEST", cname)
+		require_NoError(t, err)
+	}
+	// Make sure reporting goes to zero.
+	checkFor(t, 5*time.Second, 100*time.Millisecond, func() error {
+		for _, s := range c.servers {
+			jsz, _ := s.Jsz(nil)
+			if jsz.Consumers != 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%v still has %d consumers", s, jsz.Consumers)
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	// Delete streams
+	for _, sname := range streams {
+		err := js.DeleteStream(sname)
+		require_NoError(t, err)
+	}
+	err = js.DeleteStream("TEST")
+	require_NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Make sure reporting goes to zero.
+	checkFor(t, 5*time.Second, 100*time.Millisecond, func() error {
+		for _, s := range c.servers {
+			jsz, _ := s.Jsz(nil)
+			if jsz.Streams != 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%v still has %d streams", s, jsz.Streams)
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+}