diff --git a/templates/patroni.yml.j2 b/templates/patroni.yml.j2
index aad1ed2a395..8ce77e2bc24 100644
--- a/templates/patroni.yml.j2
+++ b/templates/patroni.yml.j2
@@ -234,7 +234,8 @@ postgresql:
       sslcert: {{ conf_path }}/nonexistent_cert.pem
       sslkey: {{ conf_path }}/nonexistent_key.pem
 use_unix_socket: true
-{%- if is_creating_backup %}
 tags:
+  failover_priority: -1
+{%- if is_creating_backup %}
   is_creating_backup: {{ is_creating_backup }}
 {%- endif %}