diff --git a/patroni/zookeeper.py b/patroni/zookeeper.py
index 7c01f278..5f9625ac 100644
--- a/patroni/zookeeper.py
+++ b/patroni/zookeeper.py
@@ -92,9 +92,8 @@ class ZooKeeper(AbstractDCS):
         self.client.add_listener(self.session_listener)
         self.cluster_event = self.client.handler.event_object()
 
+        self.cluster = None
         self.fetch_cluster = True
-        self.members = []
-        self.leader = None
         self.last_leader_operation = 0
 
         self.client.start(None)
@@ -121,18 +120,35 @@ class ZooKeeper(AbstractDCS):
         conn_url, api_url = parse_connection_string(value)
         return Member(znode.mzxid, name, conn_url, api_url, None, None)
 
+    def get_children(self, key, watch=None):
+        try:
+            return self.client.get_children(key, watch)
+        except NoNodeError:
+            pass
+        except:
+            logger.exception('get_children')
+        return []
+
     def load_members(self):
         members = []
-        for member in self.client.get_children(self.members_path, self.cluster_watcher):
-            data = self.get_node(self.member_path)
+        for member in self.get_children(self.members_path, self.cluster_watcher):
+            data = self.get_node(self.members_path + member)
             if data is not None:
                 members.append(self.member(member, *data))
         return members
 
     def _inner_load_cluster(self):
         self.cluster_event.clear()
-        leader = self.get_node(self.leader_path, self.cluster_watcher)
-        self.members = self.load_members()
+        nodes = set(self.get_children(self.client_path('')))
+
+        # get initialize flag
+        initialize = self._INITIALIZE in nodes
+
+        # get list of members
+        members = self.load_members() if self._MEMBERS[:-1] in nodes else []
+
+        # get leader
+        leader = self.get_node(self.leader_path, self.cluster_watcher) if self._LEADER in nodes else None
         if leader:
             client_id = self.client.client_id
             if leader[0] == self._name and client_id is not None and client_id[0] != leader[1].ephemeralOwner:
@@ -142,15 +158,14 @@ class ZooKeeper(AbstractDCS):
 
             if leader:
                 member = Member(-1, leader[0], None, None, None, None)
-                member = ([m for m in self.members if m.name == leader[0]] or [member])[0]
+                member = ([m for m in members if m.name == leader[0]] or [member])[0]
                 leader = Leader(leader[1].mzxid, None, None, member)
                 self.fetch_cluster = member.index == -1
 
-        self.leader = leader
-        if self.fetch_cluster:
-            last_leader_operation = self.get_node(self.leader_optime_path)
-            if last_leader_operation:
-                self.last_leader_operation = int(last_leader_operation[0])
+        # get last leader operation
+        self.last_leader_operation = self.get_node(self.leader_optime_path) if self.fetch_cluster else None
+        self.last_leader_operation = 0 if self.last_leader_operation is None else int(self.last_leader_operation[0])
+        self.cluster = Cluster(initialize, leader, self.last_leader_operation, members)
 
     def get_cluster(self):
         if self.exhibitor and self.exhibitor.poll():
@@ -163,7 +178,7 @@ class ZooKeeper(AbstractDCS):
                 logger.exception('get_cluster')
                 self.session_listener(KazooState.LOST)
                 raise ZooKeeperError('ZooKeeper in not responding properly')
-        return Cluster(True, self.leader, self.last_leader_operation, self.members)
+        return self.cluster
 
     def _create(self, path, value, **kwargs):
         try:
@@ -181,9 +196,8 @@ class ZooKeeper(AbstractDCS):
         return self._create(self.initialize_path, self._name, makepath=True)
 
     def touch_member(self, connection_string, ttl=None):
-        for m in self.members:
-            if m.name == self._name:
-                return True
+        if self.cluster and any(m.name == self._name for m in self.cluster.members):
+            return True
         path = self.member_path
         try:
             self.client.retry(self.client.create, path, connection_string, makepath=True, ephemeral=True)
@@ -217,8 +231,8 @@ class ZooKeeper(AbstractDCS):
         return True
 
     def delete_leader(self):
-        if isinstance(self.leader, Leader) and self.leader.name == self._name:
-            self.client.delete(self.leader_path)
+        if isinstance(self.cluster, Cluster) and self.cluster.leader.name == self._name:
+            self.client.delete(self.leader_path, version=self.cluster.leader.index)
 
     def cancel_initialization(self):
         node = self.get_node(self.initialize_path)
diff --git a/tests/test_zookeeper.py b/tests/test_zookeeper.py
index 0a95d0bc..19435c6e 100644
--- a/tests/test_zookeeper.py
+++ b/tests/test_zookeeper.py
@@ -75,6 +75,12 @@ class MockKazooClient:
             return ('foo', ZnodeStat(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0))
 
     def get_children(self, path, watch=None, include_data=False):
+        if path == '/no_node':
+            raise NoNodeError
+        elif path == '/other_exception':
+            raise Exception()
+        elif path in ['/service/bla/', '/service/test/']:
+            return ['initialize', 'leader', 'members', 'optime']
         return ['foo', 'bar', 'buzz']
 
     def create(self, path, value="", acl=None, ephemeral=False, sequence=False, makepath=False):
@@ -138,6 +144,10 @@ class TestZooKeeper(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIsNone(self.zk.get_node('/no_node'))
         self.assertIsNone(self.zk.get_node('/other_exception'))
 
+    def test_get_children(self):
+        self.assertListEqual(self.zk.get_children('/no_node'), [])
+        self.assertListEqual(self.zk.get_children('/other_exception'), [])
+
     def test__inner_load_cluster(self):
         self.zk._base_path = self.zk._base_path.replace('test', 'bla')
         self.zk._inner_load_cluster()