diff --git a/src/object/srv_obj.c b/src/object/srv_obj.c
index a25de535c6e..36e5e49f0d9 100644
--- a/src/object/srv_obj.c
+++ b/src/object/srv_obj.c
@@ -3031,6 +3031,7 @@ ds_obj_rw_handler(crt_rpc_t *rpc)
 	uint32_t                         max_ver = 0;
 	struct dtx_epoch                 epoch   = {0};
 	int                              rc;
+	int                              retry      = 0;
 	bool                             need_abort = false;
 
 	D_ASSERT(orw != NULL);
@@ -3248,6 +3249,17 @@ ds_obj_rw_handler(crt_rpc_t *rpc)
 			break;
 		}
 
+		/* If we have already retried once, but still failed for -DER_TX_RESTART, then
+		 * it is quite possible that the -DER_TX_RESTART failure is related with server
+		 * overload or some congestion caused RPC delay. Let's ask client to retry with
+		 * some backoff delay. That will avoid increasing server workload/congestion and
+		 * avoid client RPC timeout during server retry repeatedly.
+		 */
+		if (++retry > 1) {
+			rc = -DER_INPROGRESS;
+			break;
+		}
+
 		/* Only standalone updates use this RPC. Retry with newer epoch. */
 		orw->orw_epoch = d_hlc_get();
 		exec_arg.flags |= ORF_RESEND;
@@ -4019,6 +4031,7 @@ ds_obj_punch_handler(crt_rpc_t *rpc)
 	uint32_t                         max_ver   = 0;
 	struct dtx_epoch                 epoch;
 	int                              rc;
+	int                              retry      = 0;
 	bool                             need_abort = false;
 
 	opi = crt_req_get(rpc);
@@ -4159,6 +4172,17 @@ ds_obj_punch_handler(crt_rpc_t *rpc)
 			break;
 		}
 
+		/* If we have already retried once, but still failed for -DER_TX_RESTART, then
+		 * it is quite possible that the -DER_TX_RESTART failure is related with server
+		 * overload or some congestion caused RPC delay. Let's ask client to retry with
+		 * some backoff delay. That will avoid increasing server workload/congestion and
+		 * avoid client RPC timeout during server retry repeatedly.
+		 */
+		if (++retry > 1) {
+			rc = -DER_INPROGRESS;
+			break;
+		}
+
 		/* Only standalone punches use this RPC. Retry with newer epoch. */
 		opi->opi_epoch = d_hlc_get();
 		exec_arg.flags |= ORF_RESEND;