diff --git a/changelog/17801.txt b/changelog/17801.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..8d3764ad44ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/17801.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+```release-note:bug
+core: fix a start up race condition where performance standbys could go into a 
+mount loop if default policies are not yet synced from the active node.
+```
diff --git a/vault/policy_store.go b/vault/policy_store.go
index db92ebab5f9b..bdbfb6776a7b 100644
--- a/vault/policy_store.go
+++ b/vault/policy_store.go
@@ -264,6 +264,11 @@ func (c *Core) setupPolicyStore(ctx context.Context) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if c.perfStandby {
+		// Policies will sync from the active
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// Ensure that the default policy exists, and if not, create it
 	if err := c.policyStore.loadACLPolicy(ctx, defaultPolicyName, defaultPolicy); err != nil {
 		return err