diff --git a/mariadb/templates/bin/_readiness.sh.tpl b/mariadb/templates/bin/_readiness.sh.tpl
index e35c5a1a5..8f3d13286 100644
--- a/mariadb/templates/bin/_readiness.sh.tpl
+++ b/mariadb/templates/bin/_readiness.sh.tpl
@@ -33,12 +33,16 @@ if ! $MYSQL -e 'select 1' > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then
     exit 1
 fi
 
-if [ "x$(mysql_status_query wsrep_cluster_status)" != "xPrimary" ]; then
-    # Not in primary cluster
+if [ "x$(mysql_status_query wsrep_ready)" != "xON" ]; then
+    # WSREP says the node can receive queries
     exit 1
 fi
-if [ "x$(mysql_status_query wsrep_ready)" != "xON" ]; then
-    # WSREP not ready
+if [ "x$(mysql_status_query wsrep_connected)" != "xON" ]; then
+    # WSREP connected
+    exit 1
+fi
+if [ "x$(mysql_status_query wsrep_cluster_status)" != "xPrimary" ]; then
+    # Not in primary cluster
     exit 1
 fi
 if [ "x$(mysql_status_query wsrep_local_state_comment)" != "xSynced" ]; then
diff --git a/mariadb/templates/etc/_00-base.cnf.tpl b/mariadb/templates/etc/_00-base.cnf.tpl
index 068d11306..fc0b07994 100644
--- a/mariadb/templates/etc/_00-base.cnf.tpl
+++ b/mariadb/templates/etc/_00-base.cnf.tpl
@@ -93,8 +93,9 @@ wsrep_on=1
 wsrep_provider=/usr/lib/galera/libgalera_smm.so
 wsrep_provider_options="gmcast.listen_addr=tcp://0.0.0.0:{{ tuple "oslo_db" "direct" "wsrep" . | include "helm-toolkit.endpoints.endpoint_port_lookup" }}"
 wsrep_slave_threads=12
+# FIX_ME(portdirect): https://mariadb.com/kb/en/library/mariabackup-overview/#granting-privileges-for-ssts
 wsrep_sst_auth=root:{{ .Values.endpoints.oslo_db.auth.admin.password }}
-wsrep_sst_method=xtrabackup-v2
+wsrep_sst_method=mariabackup
 
 [mysqldump]
 max-allowed-packet=16M