diff --git a/nifi-nar-bundles/nifi-standard-bundle/nifi-standard-processors/src/main/java/org/apache/nifi/processors/standard/PutDatabaseRecord.java b/nifi-nar-bundles/nifi-standard-bundle/nifi-standard-processors/src/main/java/org/apache/nifi/processors/standard/PutDatabaseRecord.java
index 9442e3356246f..adf398010e7c7 100644
--- a/nifi-nar-bundles/nifi-standard-bundle/nifi-standard-processors/src/main/java/org/apache/nifi/processors/standard/PutDatabaseRecord.java
+++ b/nifi-nar-bundles/nifi-standard-bundle/nifi-standard-processors/src/main/java/org/apache/nifi/processors/standard/PutDatabaseRecord.java
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 import java.sql.ResultSet;
 import java.sql.ResultSetMetaData;
 import java.sql.SQLException;
+import java.sql.SQLNonTransientException;
 import java.sql.Statement;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
@@ -415,10 +416,15 @@ public void onTrigger(final ProcessContext context, final ProcessSession session
                                     }
                                     session.transfer(flowFile, REL_SUCCESS);
                                     session.getProvenanceReporter().send(flowFile, jdbcURL);
-                                } catch (final SQLException e) {
-                                    log.error("Unable to update database due to {}, flowfile {} will be penalized and routed to failure", new Object[]{e.getMessage(), flowFile}, e);
+                                } catch (final SQLNonTransientException e) {
+                                    log.error("Failed to update database for {} due to {}; routing to failure", new Object[]{flowFile, e});
                                     flowFile = session.penalize(flowFile);
                                     session.transfer(flowFile, REL_FAILURE);
+                                } catch (final SQLException e) {
+                                    log.error("Failed to update database for {} due to {}; it is possible that retrying the operation will succeed, so routing to retry",
+                                            new Object[]{flowFile, e});
+                                    flowFile = session.penalize(flowFile);
+                                    session.transfer(flowFile, REL_RETRY);
                                 }
                             } else {
                                 log.warn("Record schema does not contain Field Containing SQL: {}, flowfile {} will be penalized and routed to failure", new Object[]{sqlField, flowFile});
@@ -450,11 +456,17 @@ public void onTrigger(final ProcessContext context, final ProcessSession session
                                 try (final Connection conn = dbcpService.getConnection()) {
                                     schema = TableSchema.from(conn, catalog, schemaName, tableName, translateFieldNames, includePrimaryKeys);
                                     schemaCache.put(schemaKey, schema);
-                                } catch (final SQLException e) {
-                                    log.error("Failed to convert {} into a SQL statement due to {}; penalizing and routing to failure", new Object[]{flowFile, e.toString()}, e);
+                                } catch (final SQLNonTransientException e) {
+                                    log.error("Failed to update database for {} due to {}; routing to failure", new Object[]{flowFile, e});
                                     flowFile = session.penalize(flowFile);
                                     session.transfer(flowFile, REL_FAILURE);
                                     return;
+                                } catch (final SQLException e) {
+                                    log.error("Failed to update database for {} due to {}; it is possible that retrying the operation will succeed, so routing to retry",
+                                            new Object[]{flowFile, e});
+                                    flowFile = session.penalize(flowFile);
+                                    session.transfer(flowFile, REL_RETRY);
+                                    return;
                                 }
                             }
                         }
@@ -531,10 +543,15 @@ public void onTrigger(final ProcessContext context, final ProcessSession session
                             session.transfer(flowFile, REL_SUCCESS);
                             session.getProvenanceReporter().send(flowFile, jdbcURL);
 
-                        } catch (final SQLException e) {
-                            log.error("Unable to update database due to {}, flowfile {} will be penalized", new Object[]{e.getMessage(), flowFile}, e);
+                        } catch (final SQLNonTransientException e) {
+                            log.error("Failed to update database for {} due to {}; routing to failure", new Object[]{flowFile, e});
                             flowFile = session.penalize(flowFile);
                             session.transfer(flowFile, REL_FAILURE);
+                        } catch (final SQLException e) {
+                            log.error("Failed to update database for {} due to {}; it is possible that retrying the operation will succeed, so routing to retry",
+                                    new Object[]{flowFile, e});
+                            flowFile = session.penalize(flowFile);
+                            session.transfer(flowFile, REL_RETRY);
                         }
                     }
                 } catch (final MalformedRecordException | IOException e) {