diff --git a/server/jetstream_cluster.go b/server/jetstream_cluster.go
index 90ff7c58332..d765f546f53 100644
--- a/server/jetstream_cluster.go
+++ b/server/jetstream_cluster.go
@@ -7429,6 +7429,7 @@ func (cc *jetStreamCluster) createGroupForConsumer(cfg *ConsumerConfig, sa *stre
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	replicas := cfg.replicas(sa.Config)
 	peers := copyStrings(sa.Group.Peers)
 	var _ss [5]string
 	active := _ss[:0]
@@ -7441,20 +7442,20 @@ func (cc *jetStreamCluster) createGroupForConsumer(cfg *ConsumerConfig, sa *stre
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if quorum := cfg.Replicas/2 + 1; quorum > len(active) {
+	if quorum := replicas/2 + 1; quorum > len(active) {
 		// Not enough active to satisfy the request.
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	// If we want less then our parent stream, select from active.
-	if cfg.Replicas > 0 && cfg.Replicas < len(peers) {
+	if replicas > 0 && replicas < len(peers) {
 		// Pedantic in case stream is say R5 and consumer is R3 and 3 or more offline, etc.
-		if len(active) < cfg.Replicas {
+		if len(active) < replicas {
 			return nil
 		}
 		// First shuffle the active peers and then select to account for replica = 1.
 		rand.Shuffle(len(active), func(i, j int) { active[i], active[j] = active[j], active[i] })
-		peers = active[:cfg.Replicas]
+		peers = active[:replicas]
 	}
 	storage := sa.Config.Storage
 	if cfg.MemoryStorage {
@@ -7640,12 +7641,6 @@ func (s *Server) jsClusteredConsumerRequest(ci *ClientInfo, acc *Account, subjec
 
 		// We need to set the ephemeral here before replicating.
 		if !isDurableConsumer(cfg) {
-			// We chose to have ephemerals be R=1 unless stream is interest or workqueue.
-			// Consumer can override.
-			if sa.Config.Retention == LimitsPolicy && cfg.Replicas <= 1 {
-				rg.Peers = []string{rg.Preferred}
-				rg.Name = groupNameForConsumer(rg.Peers, rg.Storage)
-			}
 			if cfg.Name != _EMPTY_ {
 				oname = cfg.Name
 			} else {
diff --git a/server/jetstream_cluster_1_test.go b/server/jetstream_cluster_1_test.go
index 515c60d6f50..4a85168da61 100644
--- a/server/jetstream_cluster_1_test.go
+++ b/server/jetstream_cluster_1_test.go
@@ -9026,6 +9026,25 @@ func TestJetStreamClusterCreateR3StreamWithOfflineNodes(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func TestJetStreamClusterCreateEphemeralConsumerWithOfflineNodes(t *testing.T) {
+	c := createJetStreamClusterExplicit(t, "R3S", 3)
+	defer c.shutdown()
+
+	ml := c.leader()
+	nc, js := jsClientConnect(t, ml)
+	defer nc.Close()
+	_, err := js.AddStream(&nats.StreamConfig{Name: "TEST", Replicas: 3})
+	require_NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Shutdown a random server.
+	c.randomNonLeader().Shutdown()
+
+	for range 10 {
+		_, err = js.AddConsumer("TEST", &nats.ConsumerConfig{})
+		require_NoError(t, err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestJetStreamClusterSetPreferredToOnlineNode(t *testing.T) {
 	c := createJetStreamClusterExplicit(t, "R3S", 3)
 	defer c.shutdown()