diff --git a/src/v/cluster/cluster_utils.cc b/src/v/cluster/cluster_utils.cc
index 6ed6dfeb3ea4..7e6340bce467 100644
--- a/src/v/cluster/cluster_utils.cc
+++ b/src/v/cluster/cluster_utils.cc
@@ -126,7 +126,8 @@ ss::future<> maybe_create_tcp_client(
   rpc::connection_cache& cache,
   model::node_id node,
   net::unresolved_address rpc_address,
-  config::tls_config tls_config) {
+  config::tls_config tls_config,
+  rpc::backoff_policy backoff) {
     auto f = ss::now();
     if (cache.contains(node)) {
         // client is already there, check if configuration changed
@@ -141,11 +142,15 @@ ss::future<> maybe_create_tcp_client(
     return f.then([&cache,
                    node,
                    rpc_address = std::move(rpc_address),
-                   tls_config = std::move(tls_config)]() mutable {
+                   tls_config = std::move(tls_config),
+                   backoff = std::move(backoff)]() mutable {
         return maybe_build_reloadable_certificate_credentials(
                  std::move(tls_config))
           .then(
-            [&cache, node, rpc_address = std::move(rpc_address)](
+            [&cache,
+             node,
+             rpc_address = std::move(rpc_address),
+             backoff = std::move(backoff)](
               ss::shared_ptr<ss::tls::certificate_credentials>&& cert) mutable {
                 return cache.emplace(
                   node,
@@ -155,8 +160,7 @@ ss::future<> maybe_create_tcp_client(
                     .disable_metrics = net::metrics_disabled(
                       config::shard_local_cfg().disable_metrics),
                     .version = cache.get_default_transport_version()},
-                  rpc::make_exponential_backoff_policy<rpc::clock_type>(
-                    std::chrono::seconds(1), std::chrono::seconds(15)));
+                  std::move(backoff));
             });
     });
 }
@@ -166,13 +170,20 @@ ss::future<> add_one_tcp_client(
   ss::sharded<rpc::connection_cache>& clients,
   model::node_id node,
   net::unresolved_address addr,
-  config::tls_config tls_config) {
+  config::tls_config tls_config,
+  rpc::backoff_policy backoff) {
     return clients.invoke_on(
       owner,
-      [node, rpc_address = std::move(addr), tls_config = std::move(tls_config)](
-        rpc::connection_cache& cache) mutable {
+      [node,
+       rpc_address = std::move(addr),
+       tls_config = std::move(tls_config),
+       backoff = std::move(backoff)](rpc::connection_cache& cache) mutable {
           return maybe_create_tcp_client(
-            cache, node, std::move(rpc_address), std::move(tls_config));
+            cache,
+            node,
+            std::move(rpc_address),
+            std::move(tls_config),
+            std::move(backoff));
       });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/v/cluster/cluster_utils.h b/src/v/cluster/cluster_utils.h
index a769585927f6..4932a4b4b39f 100644
--- a/src/v/cluster/cluster_utils.h
+++ b/src/v/cluster/cluster_utils.h
@@ -91,12 +91,18 @@ inline std::vector<topic_result> create_topic_results(
       });
 }
 
+inline rpc::backoff_policy default_backoff_policy() {
+    return rpc::make_exponential_backoff_policy<rpc::clock_type>(
+      std::chrono::seconds(1), std::chrono::seconds(15));
+}
+
 ss::future<> add_one_tcp_client(
   ss::shard_id owner,
   ss::sharded<rpc::connection_cache>& clients,
   model::node_id node,
   net::unresolved_address addr,
-  config::tls_config tls_config);
+  config::tls_config tls_config,
+  rpc::backoff_policy backoff_policy = default_backoff_policy());
 
 ss::future<> update_broker_client(
   model::node_id,
diff --git a/src/v/cluster/node_status_backend.cc b/src/v/cluster/node_status_backend.cc
index ad0b6d09b64e..b8b84d216a26 100644
--- a/src/v/cluster/node_status_backend.cc
+++ b/src/v/cluster/node_status_backend.cc
@@ -34,12 +34,14 @@ node_status_backend::node_status_backend(
   ss::sharded<features::feature_table>& feature_table,
   ss::sharded<node_status_table>& node_status_table,
   config::binding<std::chrono::milliseconds> period,
+  config::binding<std::chrono::milliseconds> max_reconnect_backoff,
   ss::sharded<ss::abort_source>& as)
   : _self(self)
   , _members_table(members_table)
   , _feature_table(feature_table)
   , _node_status_table(node_status_table)
   , _period(std::move(period))
+  , _max_reconnect_backoff(std::move(max_reconnect_backoff))
   , _rpc_tls_config(config::node().rpc_server_tls())
   , _as(as) {
     if (!config::shard_local_cfg().disable_public_metrics()) {
@@ -61,6 +63,20 @@ node_status_backend::node_status_backend(
             }
         });
 
+    _max_reconnect_backoff.watch([this]() {
+        ssx::spawn_with_gate(_gate, [this] {
+            auto new_backoff = _max_reconnect_backoff();
+            vlog(
+              clusterlog.info,
+              "Updating max reconnect backoff to: {}ms",
+              new_backoff.count());
+            // Invalidate all transports so they are created afresh with new
+            // backoff.
+            return _node_connection_cache.invoke_on_all(
+              [](rpc::connection_cache& local) { return local.remove_all(); });
+        });
+    });
+
     _timer.set_callback([this] { tick(); });
 }
 
@@ -212,12 +228,17 @@ ss::future<result<node_status>> node_status_backend::send_node_status_request(
 
 ss::future<ss::shard_id> node_status_backend::maybe_create_client(
   model::node_id target, net::unresolved_address address) {
-    auto source_shard = target % ss::smp::count;
+    auto source_shard = connection_source_shard(target);
     auto target_shard = rpc::connection_cache::shard_for(
       _self, source_shard, target);
 
     co_await add_one_tcp_client(
-      target_shard, _node_connection_cache, target, address, _rpc_tls_config);
+      target_shard,
+      _node_connection_cache,
+      target,
+      address,
+      _rpc_tls_config,
+      create_backoff_policy());
 
     co_return source_shard;
 }
@@ -253,11 +274,21 @@ node_status_backend::process_reply(result<node_status_reply> reply) {
 }
 
 ss::future<node_status_reply>
-node_status_backend::process_request(node_status_request) {
+node_status_backend::process_request(node_status_request request) {
     _stats.rpcs_received += 1;
 
-    node_status_reply reply = {.replier_metadata = {.node_id = _self}};
-    return ss::make_ready_future<node_status_reply>(std::move(reply));
+    auto sender = request.sender_metadata.node_id;
+    auto sender_md = _node_status_table.local().get_node_status(sender);
+    if (
+      sender_md
+      // Check if the peer has atleast 2 missed heart beats. This avoids
+      // a cross shard invoke in happy path when no reset is needed.
+      && ss::lowres_clock::now() - sender_md->last_seen > 2 * _period()) {
+        co_await _node_connection_cache.local().reset_client_backoff(
+          _self, connection_source_shard(sender), sender);
+    }
+
+    co_return node_status_reply{.replier_metadata = {.node_id = _self}};
 }
 
 void node_status_backend::setup_metrics(
diff --git a/src/v/cluster/node_status_backend.h b/src/v/cluster/node_status_backend.h
index 5ab31cc1a619..19cee3cac5cb 100644
--- a/src/v/cluster/node_status_backend.h
+++ b/src/v/cluster/node_status_backend.h
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ class node_status_backend {
       ss::sharded<members_table>&,
       ss::sharded<features::feature_table>&,
       ss::sharded<node_status_table>&,
-      config::binding<std::chrono::milliseconds>,
+      config::binding<std::chrono::milliseconds> /* period*/,
+      config::binding<std::chrono::milliseconds> /* max_backoff*/,
       ss::sharded<ss::abort_source>&);
 
     ss::future<> start();
@@ -88,12 +89,23 @@ class node_status_backend {
     };
 
 private:
+    ss::shard_id connection_source_shard(model::node_id target) const {
+        return target % ss::smp::count;
+    }
+
+    rpc::backoff_policy create_backoff_policy() const {
+        static constexpr auto default_backoff_base = 1000ms;
+        return rpc::make_exponential_backoff_policy<rpc::backoff_policy>(
+          std::min(default_backoff_base, _max_reconnect_backoff()),
+          _max_reconnect_backoff());
+    }
     model::node_id _self;
     ss::sharded<members_table>& _members_table;
     ss::sharded<features::feature_table>& _feature_table;
     ss::sharded<node_status_table>& _node_status_table;
 
     config::binding<std::chrono::milliseconds> _period;
+    config::binding<std::chrono::milliseconds> _max_reconnect_backoff;
     config::tls_config _rpc_tls_config;
     ss::sharded<rpc::connection_cache> _node_connection_cache;
 
diff --git a/src/v/config/configuration.cc b/src/v/config/configuration.cc
index 937eefebaa40..dddea31ca309 100644
--- a/src/v/config/configuration.cc
+++ b/src/v/config/configuration.cc
@@ -1925,6 +1925,13 @@ configuration::configuration()
       "establish liveness status outside of the Raft protocol.",
       {.needs_restart = needs_restart::no, .visibility = visibility::tunable},
       100ms)
+  , node_status_reconnect_max_backoff_ms(
+      *this,
+      "node_status_reconnect_max_backoff_ms",
+      "Maximum backoff (in ms) to reconnect to an unresponsive peer during "
+      "node status liveness checks.",
+      {.needs_restart = needs_restart::no, .visibility = visibility::user},
+      15s)
   , enable_controller_log_rate_limiting(
       *this,
       "enable_controller_log_rate_limiting",
diff --git a/src/v/config/configuration.h b/src/v/config/configuration.h
index 47b227749c69..994dbe96eb59 100644
--- a/src/v/config/configuration.h
+++ b/src/v/config/configuration.h
@@ -388,6 +388,7 @@ struct configuration final : public config_store {
     property<bool> enable_rack_awareness;
 
     property<std::chrono::milliseconds> node_status_interval;
+    property<std::chrono::milliseconds> node_status_reconnect_max_backoff_ms;
     // controller log limitng
     property<bool> enable_controller_log_rate_limiting;
     property<size_t> rps_limit_topic_operations;
diff --git a/src/v/redpanda/application.cc b/src/v/redpanda/application.cc
index f7c5dda83d1b..66317b13e4b1 100644
--- a/src/v/redpanda/application.cc
+++ b/src/v/redpanda/application.cc
@@ -1241,6 +1241,10 @@ void application::wire_up_redpanda_services(model::node_id node_id) {
       std::ref(node_status_table),
       ss::sharded_parameter(
         [] { return config::shard_local_cfg().node_status_interval.bind(); }),
+      ss::sharded_parameter([] {
+          return config::shard_local_cfg()
+            .node_status_reconnect_max_backoff_ms.bind();
+      }),
       std::ref(_as))
       .get();
 
diff --git a/src/v/rpc/connection_cache.cc b/src/v/rpc/connection_cache.cc
index 264631ef2bee..d040e91b0a59 100644
--- a/src/v/rpc/connection_cache.cc
+++ b/src/v/rpc/connection_cache.cc
@@ -63,6 +63,16 @@ ss::future<> connection_cache::remove(model::node_id n) {
       });
 }
 
+ss::future<> connection_cache::remove_all() {
+    auto units = co_await _mutex.get_units();
+    auto cache = std::exchange(_cache, {});
+    co_await parallel_for_each(cache, [](auto& it) {
+        auto& [_, cli] = it;
+        return cli->stop();
+    });
+    cache.clear();
+}
+
 /// \brief closes all client connections
 ss::future<> connection_cache::do_shutdown() {
     auto units = co_await _mutex.get_units();
diff --git a/src/v/rpc/connection_cache.h b/src/v/rpc/connection_cache.h
index ef968029cd4e..5e3e033de1a3 100644
--- a/src/v/rpc/connection_cache.h
+++ b/src/v/rpc/connection_cache.h
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ class connection_cache final
     /// \brief removes the node *and* closes the connection
     ss::future<> remove(model::node_id n);
 
+    /// \brief similar to remove but removes all nodes.
+    ss::future<> remove_all();
+
     /// \brief closes all connections
     ss::future<> do_shutdown();
     void shutdown();
diff --git a/tests/rptest/tests/node_status_test.py b/tests/rptest/tests/node_status_test.py
index a1bb3ef0591f..a3fd0bf77da0 100644
--- a/tests/rptest/tests/node_status_test.py
+++ b/tests/rptest/tests/node_status_test.py
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ def is_node_available(self, node: ClusterNode):
         vertex = self.node_to_vertex[node]
         return self.edges[vertex][vertex] == ConnectionStatus.ALIVE
 
-    def check_cluster_status(self):
+    def do_check_cluster_status(self):
         admin = Admin(self.redpanda)
-
+        results = []
         for node, peer, expected_status in self._all_edges():
             if not self.is_node_available(node):
                 # The starting node is unavailable so the request
@@ -88,21 +88,36 @@ def check_cluster_status(self):
 
             self.redpanda.logger.debug(
                 f"Checking status of peer {self.redpanda.idx(peer)} "
-                f"from node {self.redpanda.idx(node)}")
+                f"from node {self.redpanda.idx(node)}, expected status: {expected_status}"
+            )
             peer_status = self._get_peer_status(admin, node, peer)
 
             if expected_status == ConnectionStatus.UNKNOWN:
-                assert peer_status is None, f"Expected no reponse from node {peer.name}"
-            if expected_status == ConnectionStatus.ALIVE:
+                results.append(peer_status is None)
+
+            elif expected_status == ConnectionStatus.ALIVE:
                 ms_since_last_status = peer_status["since_last_status"]
-                assert is_live(
-                    ms_since_last_status
-                ), f"Expected node {peer.name} to be alive, but since_last_status > max_delta: ms_since_last_status={ms_since_last_status}, tolerance={MAX_DELTA}"
+                is_peer_live = is_live(ms_since_last_status)
+                self.redpanda.logger.debug(
+                    f"Node {peer.name} expected status: alive, last status: {ms_since_last_status}, is live: {is_peer_live}"
+                )
+                results.append(is_peer_live)
+
             elif expected_status == ConnectionStatus.DOWN:
                 ms_since_last_status = peer_status["since_last_status"]
-                assert not is_live(
-                    ms_since_last_status
-                ), f"Expected node {peer.name} to be down, but ms_since_last_status <= max_delta: ms_since_last_status={ms_since_last_status}, tolerance={MAX_DELTA}"
+                is_not_live = not is_live(ms_since_last_status)
+                self.redpanda.logger.debug(
+                    f"Node {peer.name} expected status: down, last status: {ms_since_last_status}, is not live: {is_not_live}"
+                )
+        return all(results)
+
+    def check_cluster_status(self):
+        self.redpanda.wait_until(
+            self.do_check_cluster_status,
+            timeout_sec=30,
+            backoff_sec=2,
+            err_msg=
+            "Node status across cluster nodes did not reach the desired state")
 
     def _all_edges(self):
         for start_vertex, end_vertex in np.ndindex(self.shape):
@@ -129,10 +144,16 @@ def __init__(self, ctx):
             test_context=ctx,
             extra_rp_conf={"node_status_interval": NODE_STATUS_INTERVAL})
 
+    def _update_max_backoff(self):
+        self.redpanda.set_cluster_config(
+            {"node_status_reconnect_max_backoff_ms": 5000})
+
     @cluster(num_nodes=3)
     def test_all_nodes_up(self):
         status_graph = StatusGraph(self.redpanda)
         status_graph.check_cluster_status()
+        self._update_max_backoff()
+        status_graph.check_cluster_status()
 
     @cluster(num_nodes=3)
     def test_node_down(self):