diff --git a/cmd/erasure-sets.go b/cmd/erasure-sets.go
index 7f83a2891..ea4f2efb7 100644
--- a/cmd/erasure-sets.go
+++ b/cmd/erasure-sets.go
@@ -1111,6 +1111,13 @@ func (s *erasureSets) HealFormat(ctx context.Context, dryRun bool) (res madmin.H
 		return res, errNoHealRequired
 	}
 
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(s.format, refFormat) {
+		// Format is corrupted and unrecognized by the running instance.
+		logger.LogIf(ctx, fmt.Errorf("Unable to heal the newly replaced drives due to format.json inconsistencies, please engage MinIO support for further assistance: %w",
+			errCorruptedFormat))
+		return res, errCorruptedFormat
+	}
+
 	formatOpID := mustGetUUID()
 
 	// Initialize a new set of set formats which will be written to disk.
@@ -1192,9 +1199,6 @@ func (s *erasureSets) HealFormat(ctx context.Context, dryRun bool) (res madmin.H
 			}
 		}
 
-		// Replace reference format with what was loaded from disks.
-		s.format = refFormat
-
 		s.erasureDisksMu.Unlock()
 	}