diff --git a/db/db_impl/db_impl.cc b/db/db_impl/db_impl.cc
index 3bb2b590c60..e8c45fd737e 100644
--- a/db/db_impl/db_impl.cc
+++ b/db/db_impl/db_impl.cc
@@ -1539,8 +1539,12 @@ Status DBImpl::ApplyReplicationLogRecord(ReplicationLogRecord record,
               auto epoch_number = p.second.epoch_number;
               // advance next epoch number. next_epoch_number never goes
               // backwards
-              if (epoch_number != kUnknownEpochNumber &&
-                  (epoch_number >= next_epoch_number)) {
+              if (epoch_number == kUnknownEpochNumber) {
+                epoch_recovery_succeeded = false;
+                err_oss << "Unknown epoch number during replication";
+                break;
+              }
+              if (epoch_number >= next_epoch_number) {
                 next_epoch_number = epoch_number + 1;
               }
             }