diff --git a/CHANGELOG.rst b/CHANGELOG.rst
index 0918a3b35..6e3f58045 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ Fixed
 
 - Fix false positive warning in migrations UI.
 
+- Leader autoreturn doesn't try to return leadership to unhealthy leader anymore.
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 [2.10.0] - 2024-04-10
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/cartridge/failover/leader_autoreturn.lua b/cartridge/failover/leader_autoreturn.lua
index aac2addfb..80e24f986 100644
--- a/cartridge/failover/leader_autoreturn.lua
+++ b/cartridge/failover/leader_autoreturn.lua
@@ -22,6 +22,14 @@ local function enable(topology_cfg)
             if desired_leader_uuid ~= vars.instance_uuid then
                 log.info("Autoreturn: try to return leader %s in replicaset %s",
                     desired_leader_uuid, vars.replicaset_uuid)
+                local ok, _ = topology.member_is_healthy(
+                    topology_cfg.servers[desired_leader_uuid].uri,
+                    desired_leader_uuid
+                )
+                if ok == nil then
+                    log.error("Autoreturn: prime leader is unhealthy")
+                    goto continue
+                end
                 local client = vars.client
                 if client == nil
                 or client.session == nil
@@ -50,6 +58,7 @@ local function enable(topology_cfg)
                 end
             end
         end
+        ::continue::
     end
 end
 
diff --git a/rst/topics/failover.rst b/rst/topics/failover.rst
index dd1a170f7..5ce1c0286 100644
--- a/rst/topics/failover.rst
+++ b/rst/topics/failover.rst
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ You can also enable ``leader_autoreturn`` to return leadership to the
 first leader in ``failover_priority`` list after failover was triggered.
 It might be useful when you have active and passive data centers.
 The time before failover will try to return the leader is configured by
-``autoreturn_delay`` option in a failover configuration.
+``autoreturn_delay`` option in a failover configuration. Note that
+``leader_autoreturn`` won't work if the prime leader is unhealthy.
 
 Stateful failover automatically checks if there is a registered cluster
 in a state provider. Check is performed on a first stateful failover
diff --git a/test/integration/failover_stateful_autoreturn_test.lua b/test/integration/failover_stateful_autoreturn_test.lua
index 03d017d61..6a2e9d7f3 100644
--- a/test/integration/failover_stateful_autoreturn_test.lua
+++ b/test/integration/failover_stateful_autoreturn_test.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 local fio = require('fio')
+local fiber = require('fiber')
 local t = require('luatest')
 local helpers = require('test.helper')
 
@@ -168,7 +169,7 @@ local function check_fiber(g, server_name, present)
     end, {present})
 end
 
-add('test_stateful_failover_autoreturn_fiber_present', function(g)
+add('test_fiber_present', function(g)
     check_fiber(g, 'coordinator', false)
     for _, v in ipairs{'leader', 'replica'} do
         check_fiber(g, v, true)
@@ -191,8 +192,8 @@ add('test_stateful_failover_autoreturn', function(g)
     end)
 end)
 
-for _, server in ipairs{'coordinator', 'leader'} do
-    add('test_stateful_failover_autoreturn_fails_no_' .. server, function(g)
+for _, server in ipairs({'coordinator', 'leader'}) do
+    add('test_fails_no_' .. server, function(g)
         helpers.retrying({}, function()
             local ok, err = g.cluster.main_server:eval(q_promote, {{[storage1_uuid] = storage1_2_uuid}})
             t.assert(ok, err)
@@ -234,7 +235,7 @@ local function set_autoreturn(g, leader_autoreturn)
     end
 end
 
-add('test_stateful_failover_autoreturn_disable_no_fibers', function(g)
+add('test_disable_no_fibers', function(g)
     set_autoreturn(g, false)
     for _, v in ipairs{'coordinator', 'leader', 'replica'} do
         check_fiber(g, v, false)
@@ -242,3 +243,33 @@ add('test_stateful_failover_autoreturn_disable_no_fibers', function(g)
     set_autoreturn(g, true)
 end)
 
+add('test_failed_no_prime', function(g)
+    helpers.retrying({}, function()
+        local ok, err = g.cluster.main_server:eval(q_promote, {{[storage1_uuid] = storage1_2_uuid}})
+        t.assert(ok, err)
+    end)
+
+    helpers.retrying({}, function()
+        t.assert_equals(g.cluster.main_server:eval(q_leadership), storage1_2_uuid)
+    end)
+
+    g.cluster:server('replica'):exec(function(uri)
+        local memberhsip = require('membership')
+        rawset(_G, '__get_member_prev', memberhsip.get_member)
+        package.loaded['membership'].get_member = function(advertise_uri)
+            local res = _G.__get_member_prev(uri)
+            if uri == advertise_uri then
+                res.status = 'unhealthy'
+            end
+            return res
+        end
+    end, {g.cluster:server('replica').advertise_uri})
+    fiber.sleep(5) -- enough to wait autoreturn fiber
+
+    t.assert_not_equals(g.cluster.main_server:eval(q_leadership), storage1_1_uuid)
+    t.assert_equals(g.cluster.main_server:eval(q_leadership), storage1_2_uuid)
+
+    g.cluster:server('replica'):exec(function()
+        package.loaded['membership'].get_member = rawget(_G, __get_member_prev)
+    end)
+end)