diff --git a/cmd/litefs/config.go b/cmd/litefs/config.go
index 15a0727..7385d2d 100644
--- a/cmd/litefs/config.go
+++ b/cmd/litefs/config.go
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ func NewConfig() Config {
 	config.Log.Format = "text"
 
 	config.Proxy.MaxLag = http.DefaultMaxLag
+	config.Proxy.PrimaryRedirectTimeout = http.DefaultPrimaryRedirectTimeout
 
 	config.Tracing.Enabled = true
 	config.Tracing.MaxSize = DefaultTracingMaxSize
@@ -113,12 +114,13 @@ type HTTPConfig struct {
 
 // ProxyConfig represents the configuration for the HTTP proxy server.
 type ProxyConfig struct {
-	Addr        string        `yaml:"addr"`
-	Target      string        `yaml:"target"`
-	DB          string        `yaml:"db"`
-	MaxLag      time.Duration `yaml:"max-lag"`
-	Debug       bool          `yaml:"debug"`
-	Passthrough []string      `yaml:"passthrough"`
+	Addr                   string        `yaml:"addr"`
+	Target                 string        `yaml:"target"`
+	DB                     string        `yaml:"db"`
+	MaxLag                 time.Duration `yaml:"max-lag"`
+	Debug                  bool          `yaml:"debug"`
+	Passthrough            []string      `yaml:"passthrough"`
+	PrimaryRedirectTimeout time.Duration `yaml:"primary-redirect-timeout"`
 }
 
 // LeaseConfig represents a generic configuration for all lease types.
diff --git a/cmd/litefs/mount_linux.go b/cmd/litefs/mount_linux.go
index 81f0811..811e061 100644
--- a/cmd/litefs/mount_linux.go
+++ b/cmd/litefs/mount_linux.go
@@ -529,6 +529,7 @@ func (c *MountCommand) runProxyServer(ctx context.Context) error {
 	server.MaxLag = c.Config.Proxy.MaxLag
 	server.Debug = c.Config.Proxy.Debug
 	server.Passthroughs = passthroughs
+	server.PrimaryRedirectTimeout = c.Config.Proxy.PrimaryRedirectTimeout
 	if err := server.Listen(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/http/proxy_server.go b/http/proxy_server.go
index 7f565f2..204e76d 100644
--- a/http/proxy_server.go
+++ b/http/proxy_server.go
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ const (
 	DefaultPollTXIDInterval = 1 * time.Millisecond
 	DefaultPollTXIDTimeout  = 5 * time.Second
 
+	DefaultPrimaryRedirectTimeout = 5 * time.Second
+
 	DefaultMaxLag = 10 * time.Second
 
 	DefaultCookieExpiry = 5 * time.Minute
@@ -63,6 +65,8 @@ type ProxyServer struct {
 	PollTXIDInterval time.Duration
 	PollTXIDTimeout  time.Duration
 
+	PrimaryRedirectTimeout time.Duration
+
 	// Maximum allowable lag before the health endpoint returns an error code.
 	MaxLag time.Duration
 
@@ -77,10 +81,11 @@ func NewProxyServer(store *litefs.Store) *ProxyServer {
 	s := &ProxyServer{
 		store: store,
 
-		PollTXIDInterval: DefaultPollTXIDInterval,
-		PollTXIDTimeout:  DefaultPollTXIDTimeout,
-		MaxLag:           DefaultMaxLag,
-		CookieExpiry:     DefaultCookieExpiry,
+		PollTXIDInterval:       DefaultPollTXIDInterval,
+		PollTXIDTimeout:        DefaultPollTXIDTimeout,
+		MaxLag:                 DefaultMaxLag,
+		CookieExpiry:           DefaultCookieExpiry,
+		PrimaryRedirectTimeout: DefaultPrimaryRedirectTimeout,
 	}
 
 	s.ctx, s.cancel = context.WithCancelCause(context.Background())
@@ -253,7 +258,9 @@ LOOP:
 }
 
 func (s *ProxyServer) serveNonRead(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-	isPrimary, info := s.store.PrimaryInfo()
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(r.Context(), s.PrimaryRedirectTimeout)
+	defer cancel()
+	isPrimary, info := s.store.PrimaryInfoWithContext(ctx)
 
 	// If this is the primary, send the request to the target.
 	if isPrimary {
diff --git a/store.go b/store.go
index 713e75c..b68e12f 100644
--- a/store.go
+++ b/store.go
@@ -485,6 +485,28 @@ func (s *Store) PrimaryInfo() (isPrimary bool, info *PrimaryInfo) {
 	return s.isPrimary(), s.primaryInfo.Clone()
 }
 
+// PrimaryInfoWithContext continually attempts to fetch the primary info until available.
+// Returns when isPrimary is true, info is non-nil, or when ctx is done.
+func (s *Store) PrimaryInfoWithContext(ctx context.Context) (isPrimary bool, info *PrimaryInfo) {
+	if isPrimary, info = s.PrimaryInfo(); isPrimary || info != nil {
+		return isPrimary, info
+	}
+
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(100 * time.Microsecond)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return isPrimary, info
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			if isPrimary, info = s.PrimaryInfo(); isPrimary || info != nil {
+				return isPrimary, info
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (s *Store) setPrimaryInfo(info *PrimaryInfo) {
 	s.primaryInfo = info
 	s.notifyPrimaryChange()