diff --git a/wrapper/src/main/java/software/amazon/jdbc/plugin/AuroraInitialConnectionStrategyPlugin.java b/wrapper/src/main/java/software/amazon/jdbc/plugin/AuroraInitialConnectionStrategyPlugin.java
index 7b1eedbad..019edd76c 100644
--- a/wrapper/src/main/java/software/amazon/jdbc/plugin/AuroraInitialConnectionStrategyPlugin.java
+++ b/wrapper/src/main/java/software/amazon/jdbc/plugin/AuroraInitialConnectionStrategyPlugin.java
@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ private Connection getVerifiedWriterConnection(
           if (writerCandidate != null) {
             this.pluginService.setAvailability(writerCandidate.asAliases(), HostAvailability.NOT_AVAILABLE);
           }
+          this.delay(retryDelayMs);
         }
       } catch (Throwable ex) {
         this.closeConnection(writerCandidateConn);
@@ -334,6 +335,7 @@ private Connection getVerifiedReaderConnection(
           if (readerCandidate != null) {
             this.pluginService.setAvailability(readerCandidate.asAliases(), HostAvailability.NOT_AVAILABLE);
           }
+          this.delay(retryDelayMs);
         }
       } catch (Throwable ex) {
         this.closeConnection(readerCandidateConn);