diff --git a/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/manager_test.go b/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/manager_test.go
index 7b40d05f9b..d4e35080f7 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/manager_test.go
@@ -197,18 +197,21 @@ func TestManager_AddObservationListener(t *testing.T) {
 			eventsCluster2 <- cluster
 		}
 	})
-
+	doneCh := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		// events should be propagated to both listeners
+		<-eventsCluster1
+		<-eventsCluster2
+		<-eventsCluster1
+		<-eventsCluster2
+		close(doneCh)
+	}()
 	// observe 2 clusters
 	obs1 := m.Observe(cluster1, fakeEsClient200(client.BasicAuth{}))
 	defer obs1.Stop()
 	obs2 := m.Observe(cluster2, fakeEsClient200(client.BasicAuth{}))
 	defer obs2.Stop()
-
-	// events should be propagated to both listeners
-	<-eventsCluster1
-	<-eventsCluster2
-	<-eventsCluster1
-	<-eventsCluster2
+	<-doneCh
 }
 
 func esObject(n types.NamespacedName) esv1.Elasticsearch {
diff --git a/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/observer.go b/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/observer.go
index f2a8e98d21..b51bc13dfd 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/observer.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/observer.go
@@ -65,9 +65,27 @@ func NewObserver(cluster types.NamespacedName, esClient client.Client, settings
 	return &observer
 }
 
-// Start the observer in a separate goroutine
+// Start starts the Observer in a separate goroutine after a first synchronous observation.
+// The first observation is synchronous to allow to retrieve the cluster state immediately after the start.
+// Then, observations are performed periodically in a separate goroutine until the observer stop channel is closed.
 func (o *Observer) Start() {
-	go o.runPeriodically()
+	// initial synchronous observation
+	o.observe()
+	// periodic asynchronous observations
+	go func() {
+		ticker := time.NewTicker(o.settings.ObservationInterval)
+		defer ticker.Stop()
+
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-ticker.C:
+				o.observe()
+			case <-o.stopChan:
+				log.Info("Stopping observer for cluster", "namespace", o.cluster.Namespace, "es_name", o.cluster.Name)
+				return
+			}
+		}
+	}()
 }
 
 // Stop the observer loop
@@ -85,25 +103,6 @@ func (o *Observer) LastHealth() esv1.ElasticsearchHealth {
 	return o.lastHealth
 }
 
-// runPeriodically triggers a state retrieval every tick,
-// until the given context is cancelled
-func (o *Observer) runPeriodically() {
-	o.observe()
-
-	ticker := time.NewTicker(o.settings.ObservationInterval)
-	defer ticker.Stop()
-
-	for {
-		select {
-		case <-ticker.C:
-			o.observe()
-		case <-o.stopChan:
-			log.Info("Stopping observer for cluster", "namespace", o.cluster.Namespace, "es_name", o.cluster.Name)
-			return
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 // observe retrieves the current ES state, executes onObservation,
 // and stores the new state
 func (o *Observer) observe() {
diff --git a/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/observer_test.go b/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/observer_test.go
index 5fd742d826..7b306fc2be 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/observer_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/elasticsearch/observer/observer_test.go
@@ -78,12 +78,17 @@ func TestNewObserver(t *testing.T) {
 	onObservation := func(cluster types.NamespacedName, previousHealth, newHealth esv1.ElasticsearchHealth) {
 		events <- cluster
 	}
+	doneCh := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		// let it observe at least 3 times
+		require.Equal(t, types.NamespacedName{Namespace: "ns", Name: "cluster"}, <-events)
+		require.Equal(t, types.NamespacedName{Namespace: "ns", Name: "cluster"}, <-events)
+		require.Equal(t, types.NamespacedName{Namespace: "ns", Name: "cluster"}, <-events)
+		close(doneCh)
+	}()
 	observer := createAndRunTestObserver(onObservation)
 	defer observer.Stop()
-	// let it observe at least 3 times
-	require.Equal(t, types.NamespacedName{Namespace: "ns", Name: "cluster"}, <-events)
-	require.Equal(t, types.NamespacedName{Namespace: "ns", Name: "cluster"}, <-events)
-	require.Equal(t, types.NamespacedName{Namespace: "ns", Name: "cluster"}, <-events)
+	<-doneCh
 }
 
 func TestObserver_Stop(t *testing.T) {