diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/engine.go b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/engine.go
index 76d26b7f869..90c3767ea78 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/engine.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/engine.go
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func NewEngine(config *tabletenv.TabletConfig, ts *topo.Server, cell string, mys
 		mysqld:          mysqld,
 		journaler:       make(map[string]*journalEvent),
 		ec:              newExternalConnector(config.ExternalConnections),
-		throttlerClient: throttle.NewBackgroundClient(lagThrottler, throttlerAppName, throttle.ThrottleCheckSelf),
+		throttlerClient: throttle.NewBackgroundClient(lagThrottler, throttlerAppName, throttle.ThrottleCheckPrimaryWrite),
 	}
 	return vre
 }
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletserver/gc/tablegc.go b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletserver/gc/tablegc.go
index d66fc9912ce..105623a4bc3 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletserver/gc/tablegc.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletserver/gc/tablegc.go
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ type GCStatus struct {
 // NewTableGC creates a table collector
 func NewTableGC(env tabletenv.Env, ts *topo.Server, tabletTypeFunc func() topodatapb.TabletType, lagThrottler *throttle.Throttler) *TableGC {
 	collector := &TableGC{
-		throttlerClient: throttle.NewBackgroundClient(lagThrottler, throttlerAppName, throttle.ThrottleCheckSelf),
+		throttlerClient: throttle.NewBackgroundClient(lagThrottler, throttlerAppName, throttle.ThrottleCheckPrimaryWrite),
 		isPrimary:       0,
 		isOpen:          0,