diff --git a/api/v1alpha1/etcdcluster_types.go b/api/v1alpha1/etcdcluster_types.go
index 71cf65a6..bd7ef6d7 100644
--- a/api/v1alpha1/etcdcluster_types.go
+++ b/api/v1alpha1/etcdcluster_types.go
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ type EtcdClusterSpec struct {
 const (
 	EtcdConditionInitialized = "Initialized"
 	EtcdConditionReady       = "Ready"
+	EtcdConditionError       = "Error"
 )
 
 type EtcdCondType string
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ const (
 	EtcdCondTypeWaitingForFirstQuorum EtcdCondType = "WaitingForFirstQuorum"
 	EtcdCondTypeStatefulSetReady      EtcdCondType = "StatefulSetReady"
 	EtcdCondTypeStatefulSetNotReady   EtcdCondType = "StatefulSetNotReady"
+	EtcdCondTypeSplitbrain            EtcdCondType = "Splitbrain"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -74,6 +76,7 @@ const (
 	EtcdReadyCondNegMessage          EtcdCondMessage = "Cluster StatefulSet is not Ready"
 	EtcdReadyCondPosMessage          EtcdCondMessage = "Cluster StatefulSet is Ready"
 	EtcdReadyCondNegWaitingForQuorum EtcdCondMessage = "Waiting for first quorum to be established"
+	EtcdErrorCondSplitbrainMessage   EtcdCondMessage = "Etcd endpoints reporting more than one unique cluster ID"
 )
 
 // EtcdClusterStatus defines the observed state of EtcdCluster
diff --git a/config/rbac/role.yaml b/config/rbac/role.yaml
index 1d3153cd..69ccd7d7 100644
--- a/config/rbac/role.yaml
+++ b/config/rbac/role.yaml
@@ -16,6 +16,14 @@ rules:
   - patch
   - update
   - watch
+- apiGroups:
+  - ""
+  resources:
+  - endpoints
+  verbs:
+  - get
+  - list
+  - watch
 - apiGroups:
   - ""
   resources:
diff --git a/internal/controller/etcdcluster_controller.go b/internal/controller/etcdcluster_controller.go
index 316d23ea..87aeab69 100644
--- a/internal/controller/etcdcluster_controller.go
+++ b/internal/controller/etcdcluster_controller.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"slices"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/aenix-io/etcd-operator/internal/log"
@@ -47,6 +48,10 @@ import (
 	clientv3 "go.etcd.io/etcd/client/v3"
 )
 
+const (
+	etcdDefaultTimeout = 5 * time.Second
+)
+
 // EtcdClusterReconciler reconciles a EtcdCluster object
 type EtcdClusterReconciler struct {
 	client.Client
@@ -56,6 +61,7 @@ type EtcdClusterReconciler struct {
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups=etcd.aenix.io,resources=etcdclusters,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update;patch;delete
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups=etcd.aenix.io,resources=etcdclusters/status,verbs=get;update;patch
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups=etcd.aenix.io,resources=etcdclusters/finalizers,verbs=update
+// +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=endpoints,verbs=get;list;watch
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=configmaps,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update;watch;delete;patch
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=services,verbs=get;create;delete;update;patch;list;watch
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=secrets,verbs=view;list;watch
@@ -80,13 +86,68 @@ func (r *EtcdClusterReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request)
 		return reconcile.Result{}, nil
 	}
 
+	state := observables{}
+
+	// create two services and the pdb
+	err = r.ensureUnconditionalObjects(ctx, instance)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ctrl.Result{}, err
+	}
+
+	// fetch STS if exists
+	err = r.Get(ctx, req.NamespacedName, &state.statefulSet)
+	if client.IgnoreNotFound(err) != nil {
+		return ctrl.Result{}, fmt.Errorf("couldn't get statefulset: %w", err)
+	}
+	state.stsExists = state.statefulSet.UID != ""
+
+	// fetch endpoints
+	clusterClient, singleClients, err := factory.NewEtcdClientSet(ctx, instance, r.Client)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ctrl.Result{}, err
+	}
+	state.endpointsFound = clusterClient != nil && singleClients != nil
+
+	if !state.endpointsFound {
+		if !state.stsExists {
+			// TODO: happy path for new cluster creation
+			log.Debug(ctx, "happy path for new cluster creation (not yet implemented)")
+		}
+	}
+
+	// get status of every endpoint and member list from every endpoint
+	state.etcdStatuses = make([]etcdStatus, len(singleClients))
+	{
+		var wg sync.WaitGroup
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, etcdDefaultTimeout)
+		for i := range singleClients {
+			wg.Add(1)
+			go func(i int) {
+				defer wg.Done()
+				state.etcdStatuses[i].fill(ctx, singleClients[i])
+			}(i)
+		}
+		wg.Wait()
+		cancel()
+	}
+	state.setClusterID()
+	if state.inSplitbrain() {
+		log.Error(ctx, fmt.Errorf("etcd cluster in splitbrain"), "etcd cluster in splitbrain, dropping from reconciliation queue")
+		factory.SetCondition(instance, factory.NewCondition(etcdaenixiov1alpha1.EtcdConditionError).
+			WithStatus(true).
+			WithReason(string(etcdaenixiov1alpha1.EtcdCondTypeSplitbrain)).
+			WithMessage(string(etcdaenixiov1alpha1.EtcdErrorCondSplitbrainMessage)).
+			Complete(),
+		)
+		return r.updateStatus(ctx, instance)
+	}
 	// fill conditions
 	if len(instance.Status.Conditions) == 0 {
 		factory.FillConditions(instance)
 	}
 
 	// ensure managed resources
-	if err = r.ensureClusterObjects(ctx, instance); err != nil {
+	if err = r.ensureConditionalClusterObjects(ctx, instance); err != nil {
 		return r.updateStatusOnErr(ctx, instance, fmt.Errorf("cannot create Cluster auxiliary objects: %w", err))
 	}
 
@@ -138,8 +199,8 @@ func (r *EtcdClusterReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request)
 	return r.updateStatus(ctx, instance)
 }
 
-// ensureClusterObjects creates or updates all objects owned by cluster CR
-func (r *EtcdClusterReconciler) ensureClusterObjects(
+// ensureConditionalClusterObjects creates or updates all objects owned by cluster CR
+func (r *EtcdClusterReconciler) ensureConditionalClusterObjects(
 	ctx context.Context, cluster *etcdaenixiov1alpha1.EtcdCluster) error {
 
 	if err := factory.CreateOrUpdateClusterStateConfigMap(ctx, cluster, r.Client); err != nil {
@@ -148,30 +209,12 @@ func (r *EtcdClusterReconciler) ensureClusterObjects(
 	}
 	log.Debug(ctx, "cluster state configmap reconciled")
 
-	if err := factory.CreateOrUpdateHeadlessService(ctx, cluster, r.Client); err != nil {
-		log.Error(ctx, err, "reconcile headless service failed")
-		return err
-	}
-	log.Debug(ctx, "headless service reconciled")
-
 	if err := factory.CreateOrUpdateStatefulSet(ctx, cluster, r.Client); err != nil {
 		log.Error(ctx, err, "reconcile statefulset failed")
 		return err
 	}
 	log.Debug(ctx, "statefulset reconciled")
 
-	if err := factory.CreateOrUpdateClientService(ctx, cluster, r.Client); err != nil {
-		log.Error(ctx, err, "reconcile client service failed")
-		return err
-	}
-	log.Debug(ctx, "client service reconciled")
-
-	if err := factory.CreateOrUpdatePdb(ctx, cluster, r.Client); err != nil {
-		log.Error(ctx, err, "reconcile pdb failed")
-		return err
-	}
-	log.Debug(ctx, "pdb reconciled")
-
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -498,3 +541,57 @@ func (r *EtcdClusterReconciler) disableAuth(ctx context.Context, authClient clie
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+// ensureUnconditionalObjects creates the two services and the PDB
+// which can be created at the start of the reconciliation loop
+// without any risk of disrupting the etcd cluster
+func (r *EtcdClusterReconciler) ensureUnconditionalObjects(ctx context.Context, instance *etcdaenixiov1alpha1.EtcdCluster) error {
+	const concurrentOperations = 3
+	c := make(chan error)
+	defer close(c)
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
+	defer cancel()
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	wg.Add(concurrentOperations)
+	wrapWithMsg := func(err error, msg string) error {
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf(msg+": %w", err)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	go func(chan<- error) {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+		case c <- wrapWithMsg(factory.CreateOrUpdateClientService(ctx, instance, r.Client),
+			"couldn't ensure client service"):
+		}
+	}(c)
+	go func(chan<- error) {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+		case c <- wrapWithMsg(factory.CreateOrUpdateHeadlessService(ctx, instance, r.Client),
+			"couldn't ensure headless service"):
+		}
+	}(c)
+	go func(chan<- error) {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+		case c <- wrapWithMsg(factory.CreateOrUpdatePdb(ctx, instance, r.Client),
+			"couldn't ensure pod disruption budget"):
+		}
+	}(c)
+
+	for i := 0; i < concurrentOperations; i++ {
+		if err := <-c; err != nil {
+			cancel()
+
+			// let all goroutines select the ctx.Done() case to avoid races on closed channels
+			wg.Wait()
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/controller/factory/etcd_client.go b/internal/controller/factory/etcd_client.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4725171b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/controller/factory/etcd_client.go
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package factory
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/aenix-io/etcd-operator/api/v1alpha1"
+	clientv3 "go.etcd.io/etcd/client/v3"
+	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
+	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
+)
+
+func NewEtcdClientSet(ctx context.Context, cluster *v1alpha1.EtcdCluster, cli client.Client) (*clientv3.Client, []*clientv3.Client, error) {
+	cfg, err := configFromCluster(ctx, cluster, cli)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	if len(cfg.Endpoints) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil, nil
+	}
+	eps := cfg.Endpoints
+	clusterClient, err := clientv3.New(cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("error building etcd cluster client: %w", err)
+	}
+	singleClients := make([]*clientv3.Client, len(eps))
+	for i, ep := range eps {
+		cfg.Endpoints = []string{ep}
+		singleClients[i], err = clientv3.New(cfg)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("error building etcd single-endpoint client for endpoint %s: %w", ep, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return clusterClient, singleClients, nil
+}
+
+func configFromCluster(ctx context.Context, cluster *v1alpha1.EtcdCluster, cli client.Client) (clientv3.Config, error) {
+	ep := v1.Endpoints{}
+	err := cli.Get(ctx, types.NamespacedName{Name: GetHeadlessServiceName(cluster), Namespace: cluster.Namespace}, &ep)
+	if client.IgnoreNotFound(err) != nil {
+		return clientv3.Config{}, err
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return clientv3.Config{Endpoints: []string{}}, nil
+	}
+
+	names := map[string]struct{}{}
+	urls := make([]string, 0, 8)
+	for _, v := range ep.Subsets {
+		for _, addr := range v.Addresses {
+			names[addr.Hostname] = struct{}{}
+		}
+		for _, addr := range v.NotReadyAddresses {
+			names[addr.Hostname] = struct{}{}
+		}
+	}
+	for name := range names {
+		urls = append(urls, fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", name, "2379"))
+	}
+
+	return clientv3.Config{Endpoints: urls}, nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/controller/observables.go b/internal/controller/observables.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..adbaba3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/controller/observables.go
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+package controller
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"sync"
+
+	clientv3 "go.etcd.io/etcd/client/v3"
+	appsv1 "k8s.io/api/apps/v1"
+	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+)
+
+// etcdStatus holds the details of the status that an etcd endpoint
+// can return about itself, i.e. its own status and its perceived
+// member list
+type etcdStatus struct {
+	endpointStatus      *clientv3.StatusResponse
+	endpointStatusError error
+	memberList          *clientv3.MemberListResponse
+	memberListError     error
+}
+
+// observables stores observations that the operator can make about
+// states of objects in kubernetes
+type observables struct {
+	statefulSet    appsv1.StatefulSet
+	stsExists      bool
+	endpointsFound bool
+	etcdStatuses   []etcdStatus
+	clusterID      uint64
+	_              int
+	_              []corev1.PersistentVolumeClaim
+}
+
+// setClusterID populates the clusterID field based on etcdStatuses
+func (o *observables) setClusterID() {
+	for i := range o.etcdStatuses {
+		if o.etcdStatuses[i].endpointStatus != nil {
+			o.clusterID = o.etcdStatuses[i].endpointStatus.Header.ClusterId
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// inSplitbrain compares clusterID field with clusterIDs in etcdStatuses.
+// If more than one unique ID is reported, cluster is in splitbrain.
+func (o *observables) inSplitbrain() bool {
+	for i := range o.etcdStatuses {
+		if o.etcdStatuses[i].endpointStatus != nil {
+			if o.clusterID != o.etcdStatuses[i].endpointStatus.Header.ClusterId {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// fill takes a single-endpoint client and populates the fields of etcdStatus
+// with the endpoint's status and its perceived member list.
+func (s *etcdStatus) fill(ctx context.Context, c *clientv3.Client) {
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	wg.Add(1)
+	go func() {
+		defer wg.Done()
+		s.endpointStatus, s.endpointStatusError = c.Status(ctx, c.Endpoints()[0])
+	}()
+	s.memberList, s.memberListError = c.MemberList(ctx)
+	wg.Wait()
+}
+
+// TODO: make a real function
+func (o *observables) _() int {
+	if o.etcdStatuses != nil {
+		for i := range o.etcdStatuses {
+			if o.etcdStatuses[i].memberList != nil {
+				return len(o.etcdStatuses[i].memberList.Members)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return 0
+}
diff --git a/test/e2e/e2e_test.go b/test/e2e/e2e_test.go
index aadc826f..8e5578f6 100644
--- a/test/e2e/e2e_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/e2e_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ var _ = Describe("etcd-operator", Ordered, func() {
 				ExpectWithOffset(1, err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
 			})
 
-			By("wait for statefulset is ready", func() {
+			Eventually(func() error {
 				cmd := exec.Command("kubectl", "wait",
 					"statefulset/test",
 					"--for", "jsonpath={.status.readyReplicas}=3",
@@ -103,8 +104,8 @@ var _ = Describe("etcd-operator", Ordered, func() {
 					"--timeout", "5m",
 				)
 				_, err = utils.Run(cmd)
-				ExpectWithOffset(1, err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
-			})
+				return err
+			}, time.Second*20, time.Second*2).Should(Succeed(), "wait for statefulset is ready")
 
 			client, err := utils.GetEtcdClient(ctx, client.ObjectKey{Namespace: namespace, Name: "test"})
 			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ var _ = Describe("etcd-operator", Ordered, func() {
 				ExpectWithOffset(1, err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
 			})
 
-			By("wait for statefulset is ready", func() {
+			Eventually(func() error {
 				cmd := exec.Command("kubectl", "wait",
 					"statefulset/test",
 					"--for", "jsonpath={.status.readyReplicas}=3",
@@ -152,8 +153,8 @@ var _ = Describe("etcd-operator", Ordered, func() {
 					"--timeout", "5m",
 				)
 				_, err = utils.Run(cmd)
-				ExpectWithOffset(1, err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
-			})
+				return err
+			}, time.Second*20, time.Second*2).Should(Succeed(), "wait for statefulset is ready")
 
 			client, err := utils.GetEtcdClient(ctx, client.ObjectKey{Namespace: namespace, Name: "test"})
 			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ var _ = Describe("etcd-operator", Ordered, func() {
 				ExpectWithOffset(1, err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
 			})
 
-			By("wait for statefulset is ready", func() {
+			Eventually(func() error {
 				cmd := exec.Command("kubectl", "wait",
 					"statefulset/test",
 					"--for", "jsonpath={.status.availableReplicas}=3",
@@ -200,8 +201,8 @@ var _ = Describe("etcd-operator", Ordered, func() {
 					"--timeout", "5m",
 				)
 				_, err = utils.Run(cmd)
-				ExpectWithOffset(1, err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
-			})
+				return err
+			}, time.Second*20, time.Second*2).Should(Succeed(), "wait for statefulset is ready")
 
 			client, err := utils.GetEtcdClient(ctx, client.ObjectKey{Namespace: namespace, Name: "test"})
 			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
@@ -217,8 +218,10 @@ var _ = Describe("etcd-operator", Ordered, func() {
 			auth := clientv3.NewAuth(client)
 
 			By("check root role is created", func() {
-				_, err = auth.RoleGet(ctx, "root")
-				Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+				Eventually(func() error {
+					_, err = auth.RoleGet(ctx, "root")
+					return err
+				}, time.Second*20, time.Second*2).Should(Succeed())
 			})
 
 			By("check root user is created and has root role", func() {