diff --git a/server/raft.go b/server/raft.go
index 3d57543fd96..dad6b902c21 100644
--- a/server/raft.go
+++ b/server/raft.go
@@ -3294,8 +3294,14 @@ func (n *raft) processAppendEntry(ae *appendEntry, sub *subscription) {
 			n.debug("Term higher than ours and we are not a follower: %v, stepping down to %q", n.State(), ae.leader)
 			n.stepdownLocked(ae.leader)
 		}
+	} else if ae.term < n.term {
+		// ignore
+		n.debug("ignoring ae req from a leader with term %d which is less than ours")
+		return
 	}
+	// FIX: we need to handle if term is less than ours as well, we should be ignoring the entry
 
+	// BUG: leader was being updated even if the leader's term was out of date (behind ours)
 	if isNew && n.leader != ae.leader && n.State() == Follower {
 		n.debug("AppendEntry updating leader to %q", ae.leader)
 		n.updateLeader(ae.leader)