diff --git a/server/jetstream_cluster.go b/server/jetstream_cluster.go
index 3d987770924..1eabc7dfcb6 100644
--- a/server/jetstream_cluster.go
+++ b/server/jetstream_cluster.go
@@ -4352,28 +4352,18 @@ func (js *jetStream) processClusterCreateConsumer(ca *consumerAssignment, state
 	// Check if we already have this consumer running.
 	o := mset.lookupConsumer(consumer)
 
-	if !alreadyRunning {
-		// Process the raft group and make sure its running if needed.
-		storage := mset.config().Storage
-		if ca.Config.MemoryStorage {
-			storage = MemoryStorage
-		}
-		// No-op if R1.
-		js.createRaftGroup(accName, rg, storage, pprofLabels{
-			"type":     "consumer",
-			"account":  mset.accName(),
-			"stream":   ca.Stream,
-			"consumer": ca.Name,
-		})
-	} else {
-		// If we are clustered update the known peers.
-		js.mu.RLock()
-		node := rg.node
-		js.mu.RUnlock()
-		if node != nil {
-			node.UpdateKnownPeers(ca.Group.Peers)
-		}
+	// Process the raft group and make sure it's running if needed.
+	storage := mset.config().Storage
+	if ca.Config.MemoryStorage {
+		storage = MemoryStorage
 	}
+	// No-op if R1.
+	js.createRaftGroup(accName, rg, storage, pprofLabels{
+		"type":     "consumer",
+		"account":  mset.accName(),
+		"stream":   ca.Stream,
+		"consumer": ca.Name,
+	})
 
 	// Check if we already have this consumer running.
 	var didCreate, isConfigUpdate, needsLocalResponse bool
diff --git a/server/jetstream_cluster_4_test.go b/server/jetstream_cluster_4_test.go
index 79c8ea5ac51..698bb5916d5 100644
--- a/server/jetstream_cluster_4_test.go
+++ b/server/jetstream_cluster_4_test.go
@@ -5139,6 +5139,12 @@ func TestJetStreamClusterServerPeerRemovePeersDrift(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require_NoError(t, err)
 
+	_, err = js.AddConsumer("TEST", &nats.ConsumerConfig{
+		Durable:  "CONSUMER",
+		Replicas: 3,
+	})
+	require_NoError(t, err)
+
 	var acc *Account
 	var mset *stream
 
@@ -5150,14 +5156,18 @@ func TestJetStreamClusterServerPeerRemovePeersDrift(t *testing.T) {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			_, err = acc.lookupStream("TEST")
+			mset, err = acc.lookupStream("TEST")
 			if err != nil {
 				continue
 			}
+			o := mset.lookupConsumer("CONSUMER")
+			if o == nil {
+				continue
+			}
 			count++
 		}
 		if count != 3 {
-			return fmt.Errorf("expected 3 streams, got: %d", count)
+			return fmt.Errorf("expected 3 streams/consumers, got: %d", count)
 		}
 		return nil
 	})
@@ -5196,7 +5206,8 @@ func TestJetStreamClusterServerPeerRemovePeersDrift(t *testing.T) {
 	// Eventually there should again be a R3 stream and everyone should agree on the peers.
 	checkFor(t, 2*time.Second, 100*time.Millisecond, func() error {
 		count := 0
-		var ps []string
+		var streamPeers []string
+		var consumerPeers []string
 		for _, s := range c.servers {
 			if s == rs {
 				continue
@@ -5209,22 +5220,38 @@ func TestJetStreamClusterServerPeerRemovePeersDrift(t *testing.T) {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			rn := mset.raftNode().(*raft)
-			rn.RLock()
-			peerNames := rn.peerNames()
-			rn.RUnlock()
-			slices.Sort(peerNames)
+			o := mset.lookupConsumer("CONSUMER")
+			if o == nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("consumer not found on %s", s.Name())
+			}
+			mrn := mset.raftNode().(*raft)
+			mrn.RLock()
+			streamPeerNames := mrn.peerNames()
+			mrn.RUnlock()
+
+			orn := o.raftNode().(*raft)
+			orn.RLock()
+			consumerPeerNames := orn.peerNames()
+			orn.RUnlock()
+
+			slices.Sort(streamPeerNames)
+			slices.Sort(consumerPeerNames)
 			if count == 0 {
-				ps = peerNames
-			} else if !slices.Equal(ps, peerNames) {
+				streamPeers = streamPeerNames
+				consumerPeers = consumerPeerNames
+			} else if !slices.Equal(streamPeers, streamPeerNames) {
+				rsid := rs.NodeName()
+				containsOld := slices.Contains(streamPeers, rsid) || slices.Contains(streamPeerNames, rsid)
+				return fmt.Errorf("no equal stream peers, expected: %v, got: %v, contains old peer (%s): %v", streamPeers, streamPeerNames, rsid, containsOld)
+			} else if !slices.Equal(consumerPeers, consumerPeerNames) {
 				rsid := rs.NodeName()
-				containsOld := slices.Contains(ps, rsid) || slices.Contains(peerNames, rsid)
-				return fmt.Errorf("no equal peers, expected: %v, got: %v, contains old peer (%s): %v", ps, peerNames, rsid, containsOld)
+				containsOld := slices.Contains(consumerPeers, rsid) || slices.Contains(consumerPeerNames, rsid)
+				return fmt.Errorf("no equal consumer peers, expected: %v, got: %v, contains old peer (%s): %v", consumerPeers, consumerPeerNames, rsid, containsOld)
 			}
 			count++
 		}
 		if count != 3 {
-			return fmt.Errorf("expected 3 servers hosting stream, got: %d", count)
+			return fmt.Errorf("expected 3 servers hosting stream/consumer, got: %d", count)
 		}
 		return nil
 	})