diff --git a/pkg/server/cluster/cluster.go b/pkg/server/cluster/cluster.go
index 3375f45..05c1412 100644
--- a/pkg/server/cluster/cluster.go
+++ b/pkg/server/cluster/cluster.go
@@ -22,9 +22,8 @@ func (m *Member) setupCluster() error {
 	// If existing state is found, check whether the operator passed cluster name matches the one
 	// found. If the passed one does not match the state, we will fail with an error.
 	if c.Name != "" && c.ID != uuid.Nil {
-		if err := m.verifyClusterName(c.Name); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
+		m.logger.Debug().Msg("found existing Sherpa cluster state, verifying data")
+		return m.verifyClusterName(c.Name)
 	}
 
 	if err := m.generateClusterName(); err != nil {
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ func (m *Member) verifyClusterName(name string) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	m.logger.Info().Msg("successfully found cluster state of existing cluster to join")
+	m.logger.Info().Msg("successfully verified state of existing cluster to join")
 	m.clusterName = name
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/server/cluster/member.go b/pkg/server/cluster/member.go
index 7285a33..bd84b8e 100644
--- a/pkg/server/cluster/member.go
+++ b/pkg/server/cluster/member.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ type Member struct { // nolint:maligned
 	stateLock sync.RWMutex
 	logger    zerolog.Logger
 
-	// clusterName
+	// clusterName represents the name of the cluster this Sherpa instance is a part of.
 	clusterName string
 
 	// standby is used to determine whether the Sherpa server in question is currently in standby