diff --git a/apps/emqx_durable_storage/src/emqx_ds_replication_layer_egress.erl b/apps/emqx_durable_storage/src/emqx_ds_replication_layer_egress.erl
index 8b37b29cb..6c1499620 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_durable_storage/src/emqx_ds_replication_layer_egress.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_durable_storage/src/emqx_ds_replication_layer_egress.erl
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ init([DB, Shard]) ->
     process_flag(trap_exit, true),
     process_flag(message_queue_data, off_heap),
     %% TODO: adjust leader dynamically
-    {ok, Leader} = emqx_ds_replication_layer_meta:shard_leader(DB, Shard),
+    Leader = shard_leader(DB, Shard),
     S = #s{
         db = DB,
         shard = Shard,
@@ -173,3 +173,13 @@ do_enqueue(From, Sync, Msg, S0 = #s{n = N, batch = Batch, pending_replies = Repl
 start_timer() ->
     Interval = application:get_env(emqx_durable_storage, egress_flush_interval, 100),
     erlang:send_after(Interval, self(), ?flush).
+
+shard_leader(DB, Shard) ->
+    %% TODO: use optvar
+    case emqx_ds_replication_layer_meta:shard_leader(DB, Shard) of
+        {ok, Leader} ->
+            Leader;
+        {error, no_leader_for_shard} ->
+            timer:sleep(500),
+            shard_leader(DB, Shard)
+    end.