diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/main/resources/reference.conf b/akka-cluster/src/main/resources/reference.conf
index 606ad1c54b..5eb6be7df7 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/main/resources/reference.conf
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/main/resources/reference.conf
@@ -62,7 +62,9 @@ akka {
     # If this is set to "off", the leader will not move 'Joining' members to 'Up' during a network
     # split. This feature allows the leader to accept 'Joining' members to be 'WeaklyUp'
     # so they become part of the cluster even during a network split. The leader will
-    # move 'WeaklyUp' members to 'Up' status once convergence has been reached.
+    # move `Joining` members to 'WeaklyUp' after 3 rounds of 'leader-actions-interval'
+    # without convergence.
+    # The leader will move 'WeaklyUp' members to 'Up' status once convergence has been reached.
     allow-weakly-up-members = on
 
     # The roles of this member. List of strings, e.g. roles = ["A", "B"].
diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/main/scala/akka/cluster/ClusterDaemon.scala b/akka-cluster/src/main/scala/akka/cluster/ClusterDaemon.scala
index b24b1249c2..bac9750ccd 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/main/scala/akka/cluster/ClusterDaemon.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/main/scala/akka/cluster/ClusterDaemon.scala
@@ -1005,10 +1005,10 @@ private[cluster] class ClusterCoreDaemon(publisher: ActorRef) extends Actor with
         leaderActionCounter = 0
         leaderActionsOnConvergence()
       } else {
-        if (cluster.settings.AllowWeaklyUpMembers)
+        leaderActionCounter += 1
+        if (cluster.settings.AllowWeaklyUpMembers && leaderActionCounter >= 3)
           moveJoiningToWeaklyUp()
 
-        leaderActionCounter += 1
         if (leaderActionCounter == firstNotice || leaderActionCounter % periodicNotice == 0)
           logInfo(
             "Leader can currently not perform its duties, reachability status: [{}], member status: [{}]",