diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/seqno/GlobalCheckpointSyncAction.java b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/seqno/GlobalCheckpointSyncAction.java
index 04caf187db9..95e3505e746 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/seqno/GlobalCheckpointSyncAction.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/seqno/GlobalCheckpointSyncAction.java
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ import org.elasticsearch.indices.IndicesService;
 import org.elasticsearch.threadpool.ThreadPool;
 import org.elasticsearch.transport.TransportService;
 
+import java.io.IOException;
+
 /**
  * Background global checkpoint sync action initiated when a shard goes inactive. This is needed because while we send the global checkpoint
  * on every replication operation, after the last operation completes the global checkpoint could advance but without a follow-up operation
@@ -117,18 +119,22 @@ public class GlobalCheckpointSyncAction extends TransportReplicationAction<
     @Override
     protected PrimaryResult<Request, ReplicationResponse> shardOperationOnPrimary(
             final Request request, final IndexShard indexShard) throws Exception {
-        if (indexShard.getTranslogDurability() == Translog.Durability.REQUEST) {
-            indexShard.getTranslog().sync();
-        }
+        maybeSyncTranslog(indexShard);
         return new PrimaryResult<>(request, new ReplicationResponse());
     }
 
     @Override
     protected ReplicaResult shardOperationOnReplica(final Request request, final IndexShard indexShard) throws Exception {
-        if (indexShard.getTranslogDurability() == Translog.Durability.REQUEST) {
+        maybeSyncTranslog(indexShard);
+        return new ReplicaResult();
+    }
+
+    private void maybeSyncTranslog(final IndexShard indexShard) throws IOException {
+        final Translog translog = indexShard.getTranslog();
+        if (indexShard.getTranslogDurability() == Translog.Durability.REQUEST &&
+                translog.getLastSyncedGlobalCheckpoint() < indexShard.getGlobalCheckpoint()) {
             indexShard.getTranslog().sync();
         }
-        return new ReplicaResult();
     }
 
     public static final class Request extends ReplicationRequest<Request> {
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/seqno/GlobalCheckpointSyncActionTests.java b/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/seqno/GlobalCheckpointSyncActionTests.java
index c327e47c30c..71faecfcea5 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/seqno/GlobalCheckpointSyncActionTests.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/seqno/GlobalCheckpointSyncActionTests.java
@@ -93,6 +93,19 @@ public class GlobalCheckpointSyncActionTests extends ESTestCase {
         final Translog translog = mock(Translog.class);
         when(indexShard.getTranslog()).thenReturn(translog);
 
+        final long globalCheckpoint = randomIntBetween(Math.toIntExact(SequenceNumbers.NO_OPS_PERFORMED), Integer.MAX_VALUE);
+        final long lastSyncedGlobalCheckpoint;
+        if (randomBoolean() && globalCheckpoint != SequenceNumbers.NO_OPS_PERFORMED) {
+            lastSyncedGlobalCheckpoint =
+                    randomIntBetween(Math.toIntExact(SequenceNumbers.NO_OPS_PERFORMED), Math.toIntExact(globalCheckpoint) - 1);
+            assert lastSyncedGlobalCheckpoint < globalCheckpoint;
+        } else {
+            lastSyncedGlobalCheckpoint = globalCheckpoint;
+        }
+
+        when(indexShard.getGlobalCheckpoint()).thenReturn(globalCheckpoint);
+        when(translog.getLastSyncedGlobalCheckpoint()).thenReturn(lastSyncedGlobalCheckpoint);
+
         final GlobalCheckpointSyncAction action = new GlobalCheckpointSyncAction(
             Settings.EMPTY,
             transportService,
@@ -109,7 +122,7 @@ public class GlobalCheckpointSyncActionTests extends ESTestCase {
             action.shardOperationOnReplica(new GlobalCheckpointSyncAction.Request(indexShard.shardId()), indexShard);
         }
 
-        if (durability == Translog.Durability.ASYNC) {
+        if (durability == Translog.Durability.ASYNC || lastSyncedGlobalCheckpoint == globalCheckpoint) {
             verify(translog, never()).sync();
         } else {
             verify(translog).sync();