diff --git a/bridge/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/bridge/services/ha/ExternalMasterElectionService.kt b/bridge/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/bridge/services/ha/ExternalMasterElectionService.kt
index bb043cae0f..adbf62ddaf 100644
--- a/bridge/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/bridge/services/ha/ExternalMasterElectionService.kt
+++ b/bridge/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/bridge/services/ha/ExternalMasterElectionService.kt
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ import net.corda.nodeapi.internal.zookeeper.ZkClient
 import net.corda.nodeapi.internal.zookeeper.ZkLeader
 import java.lang.management.ManagementFactory
 import java.net.InetAddress
+import java.util.concurrent.Executors
+import java.util.concurrent.ScheduledFuture
+import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit
 
 class ExternalMasterElectionService(val conf: BridgeConfiguration,
                                     val auditService: BridgeAuditService,
@@ -28,9 +31,12 @@ class ExternalMasterElectionService(val conf: BridgeConfiguration,
 
     private var haElector: ZkLeader? = null
     private var leaderListener: CordaLeaderListener? = null
+    private val scheduler = Executors.newSingleThreadScheduledExecutor()
+    private var becomeMasterFuture: ScheduledFuture<*>? = null
 
     companion object {
         val log = contextLogger()
+        const val DELAYED_LEADER_START = 5000L
     }
 
     init {
@@ -38,6 +44,21 @@ class ExternalMasterElectionService(val conf: BridgeConfiguration,
         require(conf.haConfig!!.haConnectionString.split(',').all { it.startsWith("zk://") }) { "Only Zookeeper HA mode 'zk://IPADDR:PORT supported" }
     }
 
+    private fun becomeMaster() {
+        auditService.statusChangeEvent("Acquired leadership. Going active")
+        stateHelper.active = true
+        becomeMasterFuture = null
+    }
+
+    private fun becomeSlave() {
+        log.info("Cancelling leadership")
+        becomeMasterFuture?.apply {
+            cancel(false)
+        }
+        becomeMasterFuture = null
+        stateHelper.active = false
+    }
+
     override fun start() {
         val zkConf = conf.haConfig!!.haConnectionString.split(',').map { it.replace("zk://", "") }.joinToString(",")
         val leaderPriority = conf.haConfig!!.haPriority
@@ -49,13 +70,16 @@ class ExternalMasterElectionService(val conf: BridgeConfiguration,
         haElector = leaderElector
         val listener = object : CordaLeaderListener {
             override fun notLeader() {
-                auditService.statusChangeEvent("Loss of leadership signalled by Zookeeper")
-                stateHelper.active = false
+                auditService.statusChangeEvent("Leadership loss signalled from Zookeeper")
+                becomeSlave()
             }
 
             override fun isLeader() {
-                auditService.statusChangeEvent("Acquired leadership from Zookeeper. Going active")
-                stateHelper.active = true
+                log.info("Zookeeper has signalled leadership acquired. Delay master claim for a short period to allow old master to close")
+                becomeMasterFuture?.apply {
+                    cancel(false)
+                }
+                becomeMasterFuture = scheduler.schedule(::becomeMaster, DELAYED_LEADER_START, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS)
             }
 
         }
@@ -68,7 +92,7 @@ class ExternalMasterElectionService(val conf: BridgeConfiguration,
 
     override fun stop() {
         auditService.statusChangeEvent("Stop requested")
-        stateHelper.active = false
+        becomeSlave()
         haElector?.apply {
             if (leaderListener != null) {
                 removeLeadershipListener(leaderListener!!)