diff --git a/server/jetstream_cluster.go b/server/jetstream_cluster.go
index 32dd6859..25b7dd15 100644
--- a/server/jetstream_cluster.go
+++ b/server/jetstream_cluster.go
@@ -6111,7 +6111,8 @@ 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.
-			if sa.Config.Retention == LimitsPolicy {
+			// Consumer can override.
+			if sa.Config.Retention == LimitsPolicy && cfg.Replicas <= 1 {
 				rg.Peers = []string{rg.Preferred}
 				rg.Name = groupNameForConsumer(rg.Peers, rg.Storage)
 			}
diff --git a/server/jetstream_cluster_3_test.go b/server/jetstream_cluster_3_test.go
index e5c65d5f..d238e3af 100644
--- a/server/jetstream_cluster_3_test.go
+++ b/server/jetstream_cluster_3_test.go
@@ -611,6 +611,7 @@ func TestJetStreamClusterUserGivenConsNameWithLeaderChange(t *testing.T) {
 			Name:              consName,
 			FilterSubject:     "foo",
 			InactiveThreshold: time.Hour,
+			Replicas:          3,
 		},
 	}
 	subj := fmt.Sprintf(JSApiConsumerCreateExT, "TEST", consName, "foo")
@@ -651,6 +652,7 @@ func TestJetStreamClusterUserGivenConsNameWithLeaderChange(t *testing.T) {
 	time.Sleep(250 * time.Millisecond)
 
 	// Wait for new leader
+	c.waitOnStreamLeader(globalAccountName, "TEST")
 	c.waitOnConsumerLeader(globalAccountName, "TEST", consName)
 
 	// Make sure we can still consume.