diff --git a/flow/connectors/postgres/validate.go b/flow/connectors/postgres/validate.go
index ca9665a31..1c700e720 100644
--- a/flow/connectors/postgres/validate.go
+++ b/flow/connectors/postgres/validate.go
@@ -139,6 +139,11 @@ func (c *PostgresConnector) CheckReplicationConnectivity(ctx context.Context) er
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create replication connection: %v", err)
 	}
+	defer conn.Close(ctx)
+
+	if _, err := conn.Exec(ctx, "IDENTIFY_SYSTEM"); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to execute IDENTIFY_SYSTEM on replication connection: %w", err)
+	}
 
 	return conn.Close(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/flow/peerdbenv/dynamicconf.go b/flow/peerdbenv/dynamicconf.go
index 636c740b6..6501a6bce 100644
--- a/flow/peerdbenv/dynamicconf.go
+++ b/flow/peerdbenv/dynamicconf.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ var DynamicSettings = [...]*protos.DynamicSetting{
 			"use with PEERDB_PARALLEL_SYNC_NORMALIZE",
 		DefaultValue:     "0",
 		ValueType:        protos.DynconfValueType_INT,
-		ApplyMode:        protos.DynconfApplyMode_APPLY_MODE_IMMEDIATE,
+		ApplyMode:        protos.DynconfApplyMode_APPLY_MODE_AFTER_RESUME,
 		TargetForSetting: protos.DynconfTarget_ALL,
 	},
 	{