diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvserver/replica_raft.go b/pkg/kv/kvserver/replica_raft.go
index 9b23f98e582d..68023bc5fc70 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvserver/replica_raft.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvserver/replica_raft.go
@@ -1423,11 +1423,11 @@ func maybeFatalOnRaftReadyErr(ctx context.Context, err error) (removed bool) {
 // be queued for Ready processing; false otherwise.
 func (r *Replica) tick(
 	ctx context.Context, livenessMap livenesspb.IsLiveMap, ioThresholdMap *ioThresholdMap,
-) (exists bool, err error) {
+) (processReady bool, err error) {
 	r.raftMu.Lock()
 	defer r.raftMu.Unlock()
 	defer func() {
-		if exists && err == nil {
+		if processReady && err == nil {
 			// NB: since we are returning true, there will be a Ready handling
 			// immediately after this call, so any pings stashed in raft will be sent.
 			// NB: Replica.mu must not be held here.
@@ -1530,7 +1530,9 @@ func (r *Replica) tick(
 		// have been pending for 1 to 2 reproposal timeouts.
 		r.refreshProposalsLocked(ctx, refreshAtDelta, reasonTicks)
 	}
-	return true, nil
+
+	processReady = r.mu.internalRaftGroup.HasReady()
+	return processReady, nil
 }
 
 func (r *Replica) processRACv2PiggybackedAdmitted(ctx context.Context) {
diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvserver/store_raft.go b/pkg/kv/kvserver/store_raft.go
index 9ed83fe322ca..c792c7f1d1a3 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvserver/store_raft.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvserver/store_raft.go
@@ -762,12 +762,12 @@ func (s *Store) processTick(_ context.Context, rangeID roachpb.RangeID) bool {
 	start := timeutil.Now()
 	ctx := r.raftCtx
 
-	exists, err := r.tick(ctx, livenessMap, ioThresholds)
+	processReady, err := r.tick(ctx, livenessMap, ioThresholds)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf(ctx, "%v", err)
 	}
 	s.metrics.RaftTickingDurationNanos.Inc(timeutil.Since(start).Nanoseconds())
-	return exists // ready
+	return processReady
 }
 
 func (s *Store) processRACv2PiggybackedAdmitted(ctx context.Context, rangeID roachpb.RangeID) {