diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/transport/TransportService.java b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/transport/TransportService.java
index 13491609945a0..86771c078d9b3 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/transport/TransportService.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/transport/TransportService.java
@@ -533,7 +533,10 @@ public ConnectionManager.ConnectionValidator connectionValidatorForExtensionConn
     ) {
         return (newConnection, actualProfile, listener) -> {
             // We don't validate cluster names to allow for CCS connections.
-            threadPool.getThreadContext().putHeader("extension_unique_id", extensionUniqueId);
+            String currentId = threadPool.getThreadContext().getHeader("extension_unique_id");
+            if (Strings.isNullOrEmpty(currentId) || !extensionUniqueId.equals(currentId)) {
+                threadPool.getThreadContext().putHeader("extension_unique_id", extensionUniqueId);
+            }
             handshake(newConnection, actualProfile.getHandshakeTimeout().millis(), cn -> true, ActionListener.map(listener, resp -> {
                 final DiscoveryNode remote = resp.discoveryNode;