diff --git a/patroni/ha.py b/patroni/ha.py
index 4ef19fe4..5deb2d80 100644
--- a/patroni/ha.py
+++ b/patroni/ha.py
@@ -945,7 +945,7 @@ class Ha(object):
                     return msg
 
                 # check if the node is ready to be used by pg_rewind
-                self._rewind.check_for_checkpoint_after_promote()
+                self._rewind.ensure_checkpoint_after_promote()
 
                 if self.is_standby_cluster():
                     # in case of standby cluster we don't really need to
diff --git a/patroni/postgresql/rewind.py b/patroni/postgresql/rewind.py
index 091d1f93..9dd30c7a 100644
--- a/patroni/postgresql/rewind.py
+++ b/patroni/postgresql/rewind.py
@@ -2,9 +2,12 @@ import logging
 import os
 import subprocess
 
-from patroni.dcs import Leader
-from patroni.postgresql.connection import get_connection_cursor
-from patroni.postgresql.misc import parse_history, parse_lsn
+from threading import Lock, Thread
+
+from .connection import get_connection_cursor
+from .misc import parse_history, parse_lsn
+from ..async_executor import CriticalTask
+from ..dcs import Leader
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -16,6 +19,7 @@ class Rewind(object):
 
     def __init__(self, postgresql):
         self._postgresql = postgresql
+        self._checkpoint_task_lock = Lock()
         self.reset_state()
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -131,10 +135,32 @@ class Rewind(object):
             self._check_timeline_and_lsn(leader)
         return leader and leader.conn_url and self._state == REWIND_STATUS.NEED
 
-    def check_for_checkpoint_after_promote(self):
-        if self._state == REWIND_STATUS.INITIAL and self._postgresql.is_leader() and \
-                self._postgresql.get_master_timeline() == self._postgresql.pg_control_timeline():
-            self._state = REWIND_STATUS.CHECKPOINT
+    def __checkpoint(self, task):
+        try:
+            result = self._postgresql.checkpoint()
+        except Exception as e:
+            result = 'Exception: ' + str(e)
+        with task:
+            task.complete(not bool(result))
+
+    def ensure_checkpoint_after_promote(self):
+        """After promote issue a CHECKPOINT from a new thread and asynchronously check the result.
+        In case if CHECKPOINT failed, just check that timeline in pg_control was updated."""
+
+        if self._state == REWIND_STATUS.INITIAL and self._postgresql.is_leader():
+            with self._checkpoint_task_lock:
+                if self._checkpoint_task:
+                    with self._checkpoint_task:
+                        if self._checkpoint_task.result:
+                            self._state = REWIND_STATUS.CHECKPOINT
+                        if self._checkpoint_task.result is not False:
+                            return
+                else:
+                    self._checkpoint_task = CriticalTask()
+                    return Thread(target=self.__checkpoint, args=(self._checkpoint_task,)).start()
+
+            if self._postgresql.get_master_timeline() == self._postgresql.pg_control_timeline():
+                self._state = REWIND_STATUS.CHECKPOINT
 
     def checkpoint_after_promote(self):
         return self._state == REWIND_STATUS.CHECKPOINT
@@ -191,6 +217,8 @@ class Rewind(object):
 
     def reset_state(self):
         self._state = REWIND_STATUS.INITIAL
+        with self._checkpoint_task_lock:
+            self._checkpoint_task = None
 
     @property
     def is_needed(self):
diff --git a/tests/test_ha.py b/tests/test_ha.py
index d7d16abe..50a1bc75 100644
--- a/tests/test_ha.py
+++ b/tests/test_ha.py
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ def run_async(self, func, args=()):
 @patch('patroni.postgresql.polling_loop', Mock(return_value=range(1)))
 @patch('patroni.async_executor.AsyncExecutor.busy', PropertyMock(return_value=False))
 @patch('patroni.async_executor.AsyncExecutor.run_async', run_async)
+@patch('patroni.postgresql.rewind.Thread', Mock())
 @patch('subprocess.call', Mock(return_value=0))
 @patch('time.sleep', Mock())
 class TestHa(PostgresInit):
diff --git a/tests/test_rewind.py b/tests/test_rewind.py
index 4da12d08..88715beb 100644
--- a/tests/test_rewind.py
+++ b/tests/test_rewind.py
@@ -7,6 +7,16 @@ from patroni.postgresql.rewind import Rewind
 from . import BaseTestPostgresql, MockCursor, psycopg2_connect
 
 
+class MockThread(object):
+
+    def __init__(self, target, args):
+        self._target = target
+        self._args = args
+
+    def start(self):
+        self._target(*self._args)
+
+
 @patch('subprocess.call', Mock(return_value=0))
 @patch('psycopg2.connect', psycopg2_connect)
 class TestRewind(BaseTestPostgresql):
@@ -102,6 +112,21 @@ class TestRewind(BaseTestPostgresql):
         self.r.check_leader_is_not_in_recovery()
         self.r.check_leader_is_not_in_recovery()
 
-    @patch.object(Postgresql, 'controldata', Mock(return_value={"Latest checkpoint's TimeLineID": 1}))
-    def test_check_for_checkpoint_after_promote(self):
-        self.r.check_for_checkpoint_after_promote()
+    @patch('patroni.postgresql.rewind.Thread', MockThread)
+    @patch.object(Postgresql, 'controldata')
+    @patch.object(Postgresql, 'checkpoint')
+    def test_ensure_checkpoint_after_promote(self, mock_checkpoint, mock_controldata):
+        mock_checkpoint.return_value = None
+        self.r.ensure_checkpoint_after_promote()
+        self.r.ensure_checkpoint_after_promote()
+
+        self.r.reset_state()
+        mock_controldata.return_value = {"Latest checkpoint's TimeLineID": 1}
+        mock_checkpoint.side_effect = Exception
+        self.r.ensure_checkpoint_after_promote()
+        self.r.ensure_checkpoint_after_promote()
+
+        self.r.reset_state()
+        mock_controldata.side_effect = TypeError
+        self.r.ensure_checkpoint_after_promote()
+        self.r.ensure_checkpoint_after_promote()