diff --git a/pkg/controller/perconaservermongodbrestore/physical.go b/pkg/controller/perconaservermongodbrestore/physical.go
index cef3d6be3..7de36be98 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/perconaservermongodbrestore/physical.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/perconaservermongodbrestore/physical.go
@@ -38,6 +38,46 @@ var anotherOpBackoff = wait.Backoff{
 	Cap:      15 * time.Minute,
 }
 
+const (
+	annPrepareStarted = "operator.percona.com/physical-prepare-started"
+)
+
+// markPrepareStarted annotates the restore CR when prepare begins.
+func (r *ReconcilePerconaServerMongoDBRestore) markPrepareStarted(ctx context.Context, cr *psmdbv1.PerconaServerMongoDBRestore) error {
+	current := &psmdbv1.PerconaServerMongoDBRestore{}
+	if err := r.client.Get(ctx, types.NamespacedName{Name: cr.Name, Namespace: cr.Namespace}, current); err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err, "get restore to mark prepare started")
+	}
+	anns := current.GetAnnotations()
+	if anns == nil {
+		anns = map[string]string{}
+	}
+	if _, ok := anns[annPrepareStarted]; ok {
+		return nil
+	}
+	anns[annPrepareStarted] = time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339)
+	current.SetAnnotations(anns)
+	return r.client.Update(ctx, current)
+}
+
+// clearPrepareStarted removes the started marker when prepare is done.
+func (r *ReconcilePerconaServerMongoDBRestore) clearPrepareStarted(ctx context.Context, cr *psmdbv1.PerconaServerMongoDBRestore) error {
+	current := &psmdbv1.PerconaServerMongoDBRestore{}
+	if err := r.client.Get(ctx, types.NamespacedName{Name: cr.Name, Namespace: cr.Namespace}, current); err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err, "get restore to clear prepare started")
+	}
+	anns := current.GetAnnotations()
+	if anns == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if _, ok := anns[annPrepareStarted]; !ok {
+		return nil
+	}
+	delete(anns, annPrepareStarted)
+	current.SetAnnotations(anns)
+	return r.client.Update(ctx, current)
+}
+
 // reconcilePhysicalRestore performs a physical restore of a Percona Server for MongoDB from a backup.
 func (r *ReconcilePerconaServerMongoDBRestore) reconcilePhysicalRestore(
 	ctx context.Context,
@@ -107,18 +147,59 @@ func (r *ReconcilePerconaServerMongoDBRestore) reconcilePhysicalRestore(
 	}
 
 	if cr.Status.State == psmdbv1.RestoreStateWaiting && sfsReady && cr.Spec.PITR != nil {
+		// If a prepare already started, skip readiness/prepare this cycle unless expired
+		anns := cr.GetAnnotations()
+		if anns != nil {
+			if ts := anns[annPrepareStarted]; ts != "" {
+				if startedAt, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, ts); err == nil {
+					if time.Since(startedAt) > 10*time.Minute {
+						// auto-expire the marker to allow retry
+						if err := r.clearPrepareStarted(ctx, cr); err != nil {
+							log.V(1).Error(err, "failed to clear expired prepare-started marker")
+						}
+					} else {
+						log.Info("Physical prepare is in progress; skipping readiness/prepare this reconcile")
+						return status, nil
+					}
+				} else {
+					// malformed timestamp: clear defensively
+					if err := r.clearPrepareStarted(ctx, cr); err != nil {
+						log.V(1).Error(err, "failed to clear malformed prepare-started marker")
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
 		rsReady, err := r.checkIfReplsetsAreReadyForPhysicalRestore(ctx, cluster)
 		if err != nil {
 			return status, errors.Wrap(err, "check if replsets are ready for physical restore")
 		}
 
 		if !rsReady {
+			// Mark prepare start deterministically once
+			if err := r.markPrepareStarted(ctx, cr); err != nil {
+				log.V(1).Error(err, "failed to mark prepare started")
+			}
 			if err := r.prepareReplsetsForPhysicalRestore(ctx, cluster); err != nil {
 				return status, errors.Wrap(err, "prepare replsets for physical restore")
 			}
 
-			log.Info("Waiting for replsets to be ready before restore", "ready", rsReady)
-			return status, nil
+			// Re-check readiness after preparation to avoid infinite loop
+			rsReady, err = r.checkIfReplsetsAreReadyForPhysicalRestore(ctx, cluster)
+			if err != nil {
+				return status, errors.Wrap(err, "re-check if replsets are ready for physical restore")
+			}
+
+			if !rsReady {
+				log.Info("Waiting for replsets to be ready before restore", "ready", rsReady)
+				return status, nil
+			}
+
+			// Prepare finished deterministically when readiness turns true: clear started marker
+			if err := r.clearPrepareStarted(ctx, cr); err != nil {
+				log.V(1).Error(err, "failed to clear prepare started")
+			}
+			// If rsReady is now true, continue to the next phase
 		}
 	}