diff --git a/.changelog/9498.txt b/.changelog/9498.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8672a8f1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/9498.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+```release-note:bug
+leader: Fixed a bug that could cause Connect CA initialization failures from allowing leader establishment to complete resulting in potentially infinite leader elections.
+```
+
+```release-note:bug
+connect: Fixed a bug in the Vault Connect CA provider that could cause the intermediate PKI path to be deleted after reconfiguring the CA
+```
+
+```release-note:bug
+connect: Fixed a bug in the AWS PCA Connect CA provider that could cause the intermediate PKI path to be deleted after reconfiguring the CA
+```
+
+```release-note:bug
+connect: Fixed an issue that would prevent updating the Connect CA configuration if the CA provider didn't complete initialization previously.
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/agent/connect/ca/mock_Provider.go b/agent/connect/ca/mock_Provider.go
index 1cf77c2e3..59f5374fe 100644
--- a/agent/connect/ca/mock_Provider.go
+++ b/agent/connect/ca/mock_Provider.go
@@ -55,13 +55,13 @@ func (_m *MockProvider) ActiveRoot() (string, error) {
 	return r0, r1
 }
 
-// Cleanup provides a mock function with given fields:
-func (_m *MockProvider) Cleanup() error {
-	ret := _m.Called()
+// Cleanup provides a mock function with given fields: providerTypeChange, config
+func (_m *MockProvider) Cleanup(providerTypeChange bool, config map[string]interface{}) error {
+	ret := _m.Called(providerTypeChange, config)
 
 	var r0 error
-	if rf, ok := ret.Get(0).(func() error); ok {
-		r0 = rf()
+	if rf, ok := ret.Get(0).(func(bool, map[string]interface{}) error); ok {
+		r0 = rf(providerTypeChange, config)
 	} else {
 		r0 = ret.Error(0)
 	}
diff --git a/agent/connect/ca/provider.go b/agent/connect/ca/provider.go
index 17538ee6f..1e0d19b36 100644
--- a/agent/connect/ca/provider.go
+++ b/agent/connect/ca/provider.go
@@ -161,8 +161,13 @@ type Provider interface {
 
 	// Cleanup performs any necessary cleanup that should happen when the provider
 	// is shut down permanently, such as removing a temporary PKI backend in Vault
-	// created for an intermediate CA.
-	Cleanup() error
+	// created for an intermediate CA. Whether the CA provider type is changing
+	// and the other providers raw configuration is passed along so that the provider
+	// instance can determine which cleanup steps to perform. For example, when the
+	// Vault provider is in use and there is no type change occuring, the Vault
+	// provider should check if the intermediate PKI path is changing. If it is not
+	// changing then the provider should not remove that path from Vault.
+	Cleanup(providerTypeChange bool, otherConfig map[string]interface{}) error
 }
 
 // NeedsLogger is an optional interface that allows a CA provider to use the
diff --git a/agent/connect/ca/provider_aws.go b/agent/connect/ca/provider_aws.go
index 1868ac54e..ffdb11d23 100644
--- a/agent/connect/ca/provider_aws.go
+++ b/agent/connect/ca/provider_aws.go
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ func (a *AWSProvider) createPCA() error {
 	a.logger.Debug("creating new PCA", "common_name", commonName)
 	createOutput, err := a.client.CreateCertificateAuthority(&createInput)
 	if err != nil {
+		a.logger.Error("failed to create new PCA", "common_name", commonName, "error", err)
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -649,12 +650,26 @@ func (a *AWSProvider) deletePCA() error {
 }
 
 // Cleanup implements Provider
-func (a *AWSProvider) Cleanup() error {
+func (a *AWSProvider) Cleanup(providerTypeChange bool, otherConfig map[string]interface{}) error {
 	old := atomic.SwapUint32(&a.stopped, 1)
 	if old == 0 {
 		close(a.stopCh)
 	}
 
+	if !providerTypeChange {
+		awsConfig, err := ParseAWSCAConfig(otherConfig)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// if the provider is being replaced and using an existing PCA instance
+		// then prevent deletion of that instance if the new provider uses
+		// the same instance.
+		if a.config.ExistingARN == awsConfig.ExistingARN {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
 	if a.config.DeleteOnExit {
 		if err := a.disablePCA(); err != nil {
 			// Log the error but continue trying to delete as some errors may still
diff --git a/agent/connect/ca/provider_aws_test.go b/agent/connect/ca/provider_aws_test.go
index 12cf1e3ab..e4c86d4d7 100644
--- a/agent/connect/ca/provider_aws_test.go
+++ b/agent/connect/ca/provider_aws_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/acmpca"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/agent/connect"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/consul/sdk/testutil"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -39,7 +41,7 @@ func TestAWSBootstrapAndSignPrimary(t *testing.T) {
 				"PrivateKeyBits": tc.KeyBits,
 			}
 			provider := testAWSProvider(t, testProviderConfigPrimary(t, cfg))
-			defer provider.Cleanup()
+			defer provider.Cleanup(true, nil)
 
 			// Generate the root
 			require.NoError(provider.GenerateRoot())
@@ -89,12 +91,12 @@ func TestAWSBootstrapAndSignSecondary(t *testing.T) {
 	skipIfAWSNotConfigured(t)
 
 	p1 := testAWSProvider(t, testProviderConfigPrimary(t, nil))
-	defer p1.Cleanup()
+	defer p1.Cleanup(true, nil)
 	rootPEM, err := p1.ActiveRoot()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	p2 := testAWSProvider(t, testProviderConfigSecondary(t, nil))
-	defer p2.Cleanup()
+	defer p2.Cleanup(true, nil)
 
 	testSignIntermediateCrossDC(t, p1, p2)
 
@@ -191,14 +193,14 @@ func TestAWSBootstrapAndSignSecondaryConsul(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, p1.GenerateRoot())
 
 		p2 := testAWSProvider(t, testProviderConfigSecondary(t, nil))
-		defer p2.Cleanup()
+		defer p2.Cleanup(true, nil)
 
 		testSignIntermediateCrossDC(t, p1, p2)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("pri=aws,sec=consul", func(t *testing.T) {
 		p1 := testAWSProvider(t, testProviderConfigPrimary(t, nil))
-		defer p1.Cleanup()
+		defer p1.Cleanup(true, nil)
 		require.NoError(t, p1.GenerateRoot())
 
 		conf := testConsulCAConfig()
@@ -217,7 +219,7 @@ func TestAWSNoCrossSigning(t *testing.T) {
 	skipIfAWSNotConfigured(t)
 
 	p1 := testAWSProvider(t, testProviderConfigPrimary(t, nil))
-	defer p1.Cleanup()
+	defer p1.Cleanup(true, nil)
 	// Don't bother initializing a PCA as that is slow and unnecessary for this
 	// test
 
@@ -235,6 +237,142 @@ func TestAWSNoCrossSigning(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Contains(t, err.Error(), "not implemented")
 }
 
+func TestAWSProvider_Cleanup(t *testing.T) {
+	// Note not parallel since we could easily hit AWS limits of too many CAs if
+	// all of these tests run at once.
+	skipIfAWSNotConfigured(t)
+
+	describeCA := func(t *testing.T, provider *AWSProvider) (bool, error) {
+		t.Helper()
+		state, err := provider.State()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// Load from the resource.
+		input := &acmpca.DescribeCertificateAuthorityInput{
+			CertificateAuthorityArn: aws.String(state[AWSStateCAARNKey]),
+		}
+		output, err := provider.client.DescribeCertificateAuthority(input)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+		require.NotNil(t, output)
+		require.NotNil(t, output.CertificateAuthority)
+		require.NotNil(t, output.CertificateAuthority.Status)
+		return *output.CertificateAuthority.Status == acmpca.CertificateAuthorityStatusDeleted, nil
+	}
+
+	requirePCADeleted := func(t *testing.T, provider *AWSProvider) {
+		deleted, err := describeCA(t, provider)
+		require.True(t, err != nil || deleted, "The AWS PCA instance has not been deleted")
+	}
+
+	requirePCANotDeleted := func(t *testing.T, provider *AWSProvider) {
+		deleted, err := describeCA(t, provider)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.False(t, deleted, "The AWS PCA instance should not have been deleted")
+	}
+
+	t.Run("provider-change", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// create a provider with the default config which will create the CA
+		p1Conf := testProviderConfigPrimary(t, nil)
+		p1 := testAWSProvider(t, p1Conf)
+		p1.GenerateRoot()
+
+		t.Cleanup(func() {
+			// This is a fail safe just in case the Cleanup routine of the
+			// second provider fails to delete the CA. In that case we want
+			// to request that the main provider delete it during Cleanup.
+			if deleted, err := describeCA(t, p1); err == nil && deleted {
+				p1.Cleanup(false, p1Conf.RawConfig)
+			} else {
+				p1.Cleanup(true, nil)
+			}
+		})
+
+		// just ensure that it got created
+		requirePCANotDeleted(t, p1)
+
+		state, err := p1.State()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		p2Conf := testProviderConfigPrimary(t, map[string]interface{}{
+			"ExistingARN": state[AWSStateCAARNKey],
+		})
+		p2 := testAWSProvider(t, p2Conf)
+
+		// provider change should trigger deletion of the CA
+		require.NoError(t, p2.Cleanup(true, nil))
+
+		requirePCADeleted(t, p1)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("arn-change", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// create a provider with the default config which will create the CA
+		p1Conf := testProviderConfigPrimary(t, nil)
+		p1 := testAWSProvider(t, p1Conf)
+		p1.GenerateRoot()
+
+		t.Cleanup(func() {
+			// This is a fail safe just in case the Cleanup routine of the
+			// second provider fails to delete the CA. In that case we want
+			// to request that the main provider delete it during Cleanup.
+			if deleted, err := describeCA(t, p1); err == nil || deleted {
+				p1.Cleanup(false, p1Conf.RawConfig)
+			} else {
+				p1.Cleanup(true, nil)
+			}
+		})
+
+		// just ensure that it got created
+		requirePCANotDeleted(t, p1)
+
+		state, err := p1.State()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		p2Conf := testProviderConfigPrimary(t, map[string]interface{}{
+			"ExistingARN": state[AWSStateCAARNKey],
+		})
+		p2 := testAWSProvider(t, p2Conf)
+
+		// changing the ARN should cause the other CA to be deleted
+		p2ConfAltARN := testProviderConfigPrimary(t, map[string]interface{}{
+			"ExistingARN": "doesnt-need-to-be-real",
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, p2.Cleanup(false, p2ConfAltARN.RawConfig))
+
+		requirePCADeleted(t, p1)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("arn-not-changed", func(t *testing.T) {
+		// create a provider with the default config which will create the CA
+		p1Conf := testProviderConfigPrimary(t, nil)
+		p1 := testAWSProvider(t, p1Conf)
+		p1.GenerateRoot()
+
+		t.Cleanup(func() {
+			// the p2 provider should not remove the CA but we need to ensure that
+			// we do clean it up
+			p1.Cleanup(true, nil)
+		})
+
+		// just ensure that it got created
+		requirePCANotDeleted(t, p1)
+
+		state, err := p1.State()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		p2Conf := testProviderConfigPrimary(t, map[string]interface{}{
+			"ExistingARN": state[AWSStateCAARNKey],
+		})
+		p2 := testAWSProvider(t, p2Conf)
+
+		// because the ARN isn't changing we don't want to remove the CA
+		require.NoError(t, p2.Cleanup(false, p2Conf.RawConfig))
+
+		requirePCANotDeleted(t, p1)
+	})
+}
+
 func testAWSProvider(t *testing.T, cfg ProviderConfig) *AWSProvider {
 	p := &AWSProvider{}
 	logger := testutil.Logger(t)
diff --git a/agent/connect/ca/provider_consul.go b/agent/connect/ca/provider_consul.go
index 55f9052fb..f216cf5dc 100644
--- a/agent/connect/ca/provider_consul.go
+++ b/agent/connect/ca/provider_consul.go
@@ -310,7 +310,11 @@ func (c *ConsulProvider) GenerateIntermediate() (string, error) {
 }
 
 // Remove the state store entry for this provider instance.
-func (c *ConsulProvider) Cleanup() error {
+func (c *ConsulProvider) Cleanup(_ bool, _ map[string]interface{}) error {
+	// This method only gets called for final cleanup. Therefore we don't
+	// need to worry about the case where a ca config update is made to
+	// change the cert ttls but leaving the private key and root cert the
+	// same. Changing those would change the id field on the provider.
 	args := &structs.CARequest{
 		Op:            structs.CAOpDeleteProviderState,
 		ProviderState: &structs.CAConsulProviderState{ID: c.id},
diff --git a/agent/connect/ca/provider_vault.go b/agent/connect/ca/provider_vault.go
index 0510fe866..d6b527f56 100644
--- a/agent/connect/ca/provider_vault.go
+++ b/agent/connect/ca/provider_vault.go
@@ -523,10 +523,31 @@ func (c *VaultProvider) SupportsCrossSigning() (bool, error) {
 // Cleanup unmounts the configured intermediate PKI backend. It's fine to tear
 // this down and recreate it on small config changes because the intermediate
 // certs get bundled with the leaf certs, so there's no cost to the CA changing.
-func (v *VaultProvider) Cleanup() error {
+func (v *VaultProvider) Cleanup(providerTypeChange bool, otherConfig map[string]interface{}) error {
 	v.Stop()
 
-	return v.client.Sys().Unmount(v.config.IntermediatePKIPath)
+	if !providerTypeChange {
+		newConfig, err := ParseVaultCAConfig(otherConfig)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// if the intermeidate PKI path isn't changing we don't want to delete it as
+		// Cleanup is called after initializing the new provider
+		if newConfig.IntermediatePKIPath == v.config.IntermediatePKIPath {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	err := v.client.Sys().Unmount(v.config.IntermediatePKIPath)
+
+	switch err {
+	case ErrBackendNotMounted, ErrBackendNotInitialized:
+		// suppress these errors if we didn't finish initialization before
+		return nil
+	default:
+		return err
+	}
 }
 
 // Stop shuts down the token renew goroutine.
diff --git a/agent/connect/ca/provider_vault_test.go b/agent/connect/ca/provider_vault_test.go
index d14ceeefc..d3b36da96 100644
--- a/agent/connect/ca/provider_vault_test.go
+++ b/agent/connect/ca/provider_vault_test.go
@@ -359,6 +359,86 @@ func TestVaultProvider_SignIntermediateConsul(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func TestVaultProvider_Cleanup(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	SkipIfVaultNotPresent(t)
+
+	testVault, err := runTestVault(t)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	testVault.WaitUntilReady(t)
+
+	t.Run("provider-change", func(t *testing.T) {
+		provider, err := createVaultProvider(t, true, testVault.Addr, testVault.RootToken, nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// ensure that the intermediate PKI mount exists
+		mounts, err := provider.client.Sys().ListMounts()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Contains(t, mounts, provider.config.IntermediatePKIPath)
+
+		// call cleanup with a provider change - this should cause removal of the mount
+		require.NoError(t, provider.Cleanup(true, nil))
+
+		// verify the mount was removed
+		mounts, err = provider.client.Sys().ListMounts()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.NotContains(t, mounts, provider.config.IntermediatePKIPath)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("pki-path-change", func(t *testing.T) {
+		provider, err := createVaultProvider(t, true, testVault.Addr, testVault.RootToken, nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// ensure that the intermediate PKI mount exists
+		mounts, err := provider.client.Sys().ListMounts()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Contains(t, mounts, provider.config.IntermediatePKIPath)
+
+		// call cleanup with an intermediate pki path change - this should cause removal of the mount
+		require.NoError(t, provider.Cleanup(false, map[string]interface{}{
+			"Address":     testVault.Addr,
+			"Token":       testVault.RootToken,
+			"RootPKIPath": "pki-root/",
+			//
+			"IntermediatePKIPath": "pki-intermediate2/",
+			// Tests duration parsing after msgpack type mangling during raft apply.
+			"LeafCertTTL": []uint8("72h"),
+		}))
+
+		// verify the mount was removed
+		mounts, err = provider.client.Sys().ListMounts()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.NotContains(t, mounts, provider.config.IntermediatePKIPath)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("pki-path-unchanged", func(t *testing.T) {
+		provider, err := createVaultProvider(t, true, testVault.Addr, testVault.RootToken, nil)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// ensure that the intermediate PKI mount exists
+		mounts, err := provider.client.Sys().ListMounts()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Contains(t, mounts, provider.config.IntermediatePKIPath)
+
+		// call cleanup with no config changes - this should not cause removal of the intermediate pki path
+		require.NoError(t, provider.Cleanup(false, map[string]interface{}{
+			"Address":             testVault.Addr,
+			"Token":               testVault.RootToken,
+			"RootPKIPath":         "pki-root/",
+			"IntermediatePKIPath": "pki-intermediate/",
+			// Tests duration parsing after msgpack type mangling during raft apply.
+			"LeafCertTTL": []uint8("72h"),
+		}))
+
+		// verify the mount was NOT removed
+		mounts, err = provider.client.Sys().ListMounts()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Contains(t, mounts, provider.config.IntermediatePKIPath)
+	})
+}
+
 func getIntermediateCertTTL(t *testing.T, caConf *structs.CAConfiguration) time.Duration {
 	t.Helper()
 
diff --git a/agent/consul/leader.go b/agent/consul/leader.go
index 996593a84..e7028098c 100644
--- a/agent/consul/leader.go
+++ b/agent/consul/leader.go
@@ -343,10 +343,6 @@ func (s *Server) establishLeadership(ctx context.Context) error {
 	s.getOrCreateAutopilotConfig()
 	s.autopilot.Start(ctx)
 
-	if err := s.caManager.InitializeCA(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	s.startConfigReplication()
 
 	s.startFederationStateReplication()
@@ -391,7 +387,7 @@ func (s *Server) revokeLeadership() {
 	s.stopConnectLeader()
 
 	s.caManager.setCAProvider(nil, nil)
-	s.caManager.setState(CAStateUninitialized, false)
+	s.caManager.setState(caStateUninitialized, false)
 
 	s.stopACLTokenReaping()
 
diff --git a/agent/consul/leader_connect.go b/agent/consul/leader_connect.go
index 64a157198..2104e7c9e 100644
--- a/agent/consul/leader_connect.go
+++ b/agent/consul/leader_connect.go
@@ -34,21 +34,16 @@ func (s *Server) startConnectLeader() error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// Start the Connect secondary DC actions if enabled.
-	if s.config.Datacenter != s.config.PrimaryDatacenter {
-		s.leaderRoutineManager.Start(secondaryCARootWatchRoutineName, s.caManager.secondaryCARootWatch)
-	}
-
-	s.leaderRoutineManager.Start(intermediateCertRenewWatchRoutineName, s.caManager.intermediateCertRenewalWatch)
+	s.caManager.Start()
 	s.leaderRoutineManager.Start(caRootPruningRoutineName, s.runCARootPruning)
+
 	return s.startIntentionConfigEntryMigration()
 }
 
 // stopConnectLeader stops connect specific leader functions.
 func (s *Server) stopConnectLeader() {
+	s.caManager.Stop()
 	s.leaderRoutineManager.Stop(intentionMigrationRoutineName)
-	s.leaderRoutineManager.Stop(secondaryCARootWatchRoutineName)
-	s.leaderRoutineManager.Stop(intermediateCertRenewWatchRoutineName)
 	s.leaderRoutineManager.Stop(caRootPruningRoutineName)
 
 	// If the provider implements NeedsStop, we call Stop to perform any shutdown actions.
diff --git a/agent/consul/leader_connect_ca.go b/agent/consul/leader_connect_ca.go
index 69a3424c1..ff30d50df 100644
--- a/agent/consul/leader_connect_ca.go
+++ b/agent/consul/leader_connect_ca.go
@@ -17,14 +17,14 @@ import (
 	uuid "github.com/hashicorp/go-uuid"
 )
 
-type CAState string
+type caState string
 
 const (
-	CAStateUninitialized     CAState = "UNINITIALIZED"
-	CAStateInitializing              = "INITIALIZING"
-	CAStateReady                     = "READY"
-	CAStateRenewIntermediate         = "RENEWING"
-	CAStateReconfig                  = "RECONFIGURING"
+	caStateUninitialized     caState = "UNINITIALIZED"
+	caStateInitializing              = "INITIALIZING"
+	caStateInitialized               = "INITIALIZED"
+	caStateRenewIntermediate         = "RENEWING"
+	caStateReconfig                  = "RECONFIGURING"
 )
 
 // caServerDelegate is an interface for server operations for facilitating
@@ -61,9 +61,11 @@ type CAManager struct {
 
 	// stateLock protects the internal state used for administrative CA tasks.
 	stateLock         sync.Mutex
-	state             CAState
+	state             caState
 	primaryRoots      structs.IndexedCARoots // The most recently seen state of the root CAs from the primary datacenter.
 	actingSecondaryCA bool                   // True if this datacenter has been initialized as a secondary CA.
+
+	leaderRoutineManager *LeaderRoutineManager
 }
 
 type caDelegateWithState struct {
@@ -74,36 +76,47 @@ func (c *caDelegateWithState) State() *state.Store {
 	return c.fsm.State()
 }
 
-func NewCAManager(delegate caServerDelegate, logger hclog.Logger, config *Config) *CAManager {
+func NewCAManager(delegate caServerDelegate, leaderRoutineManager *LeaderRoutineManager, logger hclog.Logger, config *Config) *CAManager {
 	return &CAManager{
-		delegate:   delegate,
-		logger:     logger,
-		serverConf: config,
-		state:      CAStateUninitialized,
+		delegate:             delegate,
+		logger:               logger,
+		serverConf:           config,
+		state:                caStateUninitialized,
+		leaderRoutineManager: leaderRoutineManager,
 	}
 }
 
 func (c *CAManager) reset() {
-	c.state = CAStateUninitialized
+	c.state = caStateUninitialized
 	c.primaryRoots = structs.IndexedCARoots{}
 	c.actingSecondaryCA = false
 	c.setCAProvider(nil, nil)
 }
 
 // setState attempts to update the CA state to the given state.
-// If the current state is not READY, this will fail. The only exception is when
-// the current state is UNINITIALIZED, and the function is called with CAStateInitializing.
-func (c *CAManager) setState(newState CAState, validateState bool) error {
+// Valid state transitions are:
+//
+// caStateInitialized -> <any state>
+// caStateUninitialized -> caStateInitializing
+// caStateUninitialized -> caStateReconfig
+//
+// Other state transitions may be forced if the validateState parameter is set to false.
+// This will mainly be used in deferred functions which aim to set the final status based
+// a successful/error return.
+func (c *CAManager) setState(newState caState, validateState bool) (caState, error) {
 	c.stateLock.Lock()
 	defer c.stateLock.Unlock()
 	state := c.state
 
-	if !validateState || state == CAStateReady || (state == CAStateUninitialized && newState == CAStateInitializing) {
+	if !validateState ||
+		state == caStateInitialized ||
+		(state == caStateUninitialized && newState == caStateInitializing) ||
+		(state == caStateUninitialized && newState == caStateReconfig) {
 		c.state = newState
 	} else {
-		return fmt.Errorf("CA is already in state %q", state)
+		return state, fmt.Errorf("CA is already in state %q", state)
 	}
-	return nil
+	return state, nil
 }
 
 // setPrimaryRoots updates the most recently seen roots from the primary.
@@ -111,7 +124,7 @@ func (c *CAManager) setPrimaryRoots(newRoots structs.IndexedCARoots) error {
 	c.stateLock.Lock()
 	defer c.stateLock.Unlock()
 
-	if c.state == CAStateInitializing || c.state == CAStateReconfig {
+	if c.state == caStateInitializing || c.state == caStateReconfig {
 		c.primaryRoots = newRoots
 	} else {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Cannot update primary roots in state %q", c.state)
@@ -234,21 +247,87 @@ func (c *CAManager) setCAProvider(newProvider ca.Provider, root *structs.CARoot)
 	c.providerLock.Unlock()
 }
 
+func (c *CAManager) Start() {
+	// Attempt to initialize the Connect CA now. This will
+	// happen during leader establishment and it would be great
+	// if the CA was ready to go once that process was finished.
+	if err := c.InitializeCA(); err != nil {
+		c.logger.Error("Failed to initialize Connect CA", "error", err)
+
+		// we failed to fully initialize the CA so we need to spawn a
+		// go routine to retry this process until it succeeds or we lose
+		// leadership and the go routine gets stopped.
+		c.leaderRoutineManager.Start(backgroundCAInitializationRoutineName, c.backgroundCAInitialization)
+	} else {
+		// We only start these if CA initialization was successful. If not the completion of the
+		// background CA initialization will start these routines.
+		c.startPostInitializeRoutines()
+	}
+}
+
+func (c *CAManager) Stop() {
+	c.leaderRoutineManager.Stop(secondaryCARootWatchRoutineName)
+	c.leaderRoutineManager.Stop(intermediateCertRenewWatchRoutineName)
+	c.leaderRoutineManager.Stop(backgroundCAInitializationRoutineName)
+}
+
+func (c *CAManager) startPostInitializeRoutines() {
+	// Start the Connect secondary DC actions if enabled.
+	if c.serverConf.Datacenter != c.serverConf.PrimaryDatacenter {
+		c.leaderRoutineManager.Start(secondaryCARootWatchRoutineName, c.secondaryCARootWatch)
+	}
+
+	c.leaderRoutineManager.Start(intermediateCertRenewWatchRoutineName, c.intermediateCertRenewalWatch)
+}
+
+func (c *CAManager) backgroundCAInitialization(ctx context.Context) error {
+	retryLoopBackoffAbortOnSuccess(ctx, c.InitializeCA, func(err error) {
+		c.logger.Error("Failed to initialize Connect CA",
+			"routine", backgroundCAInitializationRoutineName,
+			"error", err,
+		)
+	})
+
+	if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	c.logger.Info("Successfully initialized the Connect CA")
+
+	c.startPostInitializeRoutines()
+	return nil
+}
+
 // InitializeCA sets up the CA provider when gaining leadership, either bootstrapping
 // the CA if this is the primary DC or making a remote RPC for intermediate signing
 // if this is a secondary DC.
-func (c *CAManager) InitializeCA() error {
+func (c *CAManager) InitializeCA() (reterr error) {
 	// Bail if connect isn't enabled.
 	if !c.serverConf.ConnectEnabled {
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	// Update the state before doing anything else.
-	err := c.setState(CAStateInitializing, true)
+	oldState, err := c.setState(caStateInitializing, true)
+	// if we were already in the initialized state then there is nothing to be done.
+	if oldState == caStateInitialized {
+		return nil
+	}
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	defer c.setState(CAStateReady, false)
+
+	defer func() {
+		// Using named return values in deferred funcs isnt too common in our code
+		// but it is first class Go functionality. The error erturned from the
+		// main func will be available by its given name within deferred functions.
+		// See: https://blog.golang.org/defer-panic-and-recover
+		if reterr == nil {
+			c.setState(caStateInitialized, false)
+		} else {
+			c.setState(caStateUninitialized, false)
+		}
+	}()
 
 	// Initialize the provider based on the current config.
 	conf, err := c.initializeCAConfig()
@@ -613,12 +692,29 @@ func (c *CAManager) persistNewRootAndConfig(provider ca.Provider, newActiveRoot
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (c *CAManager) UpdateConfiguration(args *structs.CARequest) error {
+func (c *CAManager) UpdateConfiguration(args *structs.CARequest) (reterr error) {
 	// Attempt to update the state first.
-	if err := c.setState(CAStateReconfig, true); err != nil {
+	oldState, err := c.setState(caStateReconfig, true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		// Using named return values in deferred funcs isnt too common in our code
+		// but it is first class Go functionality. The error erturned from the
+		// main func will be available by its given name within deferred functions.
+		// See: https://blog.golang.org/defer-panic-and-recover
+		if reterr == nil {
+			c.setState(caStateInitialized, false)
+		} else {
+			c.setState(oldState, false)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	// Attempt to initialize the config if we failed to do so in InitializeCA for some reason
+	_, err = c.initializeCAConfig()
+	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	defer c.setState(CAStateReady, false)
 
 	// Exit early if it's a no-op change
 	state := c.delegate.State()
@@ -674,7 +770,7 @@ func (c *CAManager) UpdateConfiguration(args *structs.CARequest) error {
 	cleanupNewProvider := true
 	defer func() {
 		if cleanupNewProvider {
-			if err := newProvider.Cleanup(); err != nil {
+			if err := newProvider.Cleanup(args.Config.Provider != config.Provider, args.Config.Config); err != nil {
 				c.logger.Warn("failed to clean up CA provider while handling startup failure", "provider", newProvider, "error", err)
 			}
 		}
@@ -739,51 +835,60 @@ func (c *CAManager) UpdateConfiguration(args *structs.CARequest) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// At this point, we know the config change has trigged a root rotation,
-	// either by swapping the provider type or changing the provider's config
-	// to use a different root certificate.
-
-	// First up, sanity check that the current provider actually supports
-	// cross-signing.
+	// get the old CA provider to be used for Cross Signing and to clean it up at the end
+	// of the functi8on.
 	oldProvider, _ := c.getCAProvider()
 	if oldProvider == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("internal error: CA provider is nil")
 	}
-	canXSign, err := oldProvider.SupportsCrossSigning()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("CA provider error: %s", err)
-	}
-	if !canXSign && !args.Config.ForceWithoutCrossSigning {
-		return errors.New("The current CA Provider does not support cross-signing. " +
-			"You can try again with ForceWithoutCrossSigningSet but this may cause " +
-			"disruption - see documentation for more.")
-	}
-	if !canXSign && args.Config.ForceWithoutCrossSigning {
-		c.logger.Warn("current CA doesn't support cross signing but " +
-			"CA reconfiguration forced anyway with ForceWithoutCrossSigning")
-	}
 
-	// If it's a config change that would trigger a rotation (different provider/root):
-	// 1. Get the root from the new provider.
-	// 2. Call CrossSignCA on the old provider to sign the new root with the old one to
-	// get a cross-signed certificate.
-	// 3. Take the active root for the new provider and append the intermediate from step 2
-	// to its list of intermediates.
-	newRoot, err := connect.ParseCert(newRootPEM)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if canXSign {
-		// Have the old provider cross-sign the new root
-		xcCert, err := oldProvider.CrossSignCA(newRoot)
+	// We only even think about cross signing if the current provider has a root cert
+	// In some cases such as having a bad CA configuration during startup the provider
+	// may not have been able to generate a cert. We then want to be able to prevent
+	// an attempt to cross sign the cert which will definitely fail.
+	if root != nil {
+		// If it's a config change that would trigger a rotation (different provider/root):
+		// 1. Get the root from the new provider.
+		// 2. Call CrossSignCA on the old provider to sign the new root with the old one to
+		// get a cross-signed certificate.
+		// 3. Take the active root for the new provider and append the intermediate from step 2
+		// to its list of intermediates.
+		newRoot, err := connect.ParseCert(newRootPEM)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		// Add the cross signed cert to the new CA's intermediates (to be attached
-		// to leaf certs).
-		newActiveRoot.IntermediateCerts = []string{xcCert}
+		// At this point, we know the config change has triggered a root rotation,
+		// either by swapping the provider type or changing the provider's config
+		// to use a different root certificate.
+
+		// First up, check that the current provider actually supports
+		// cross-signing.
+		canXSign, err := oldProvider.SupportsCrossSigning()
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("CA provider error: %s", err)
+		}
+		if !canXSign && !args.Config.ForceWithoutCrossSigning {
+			return errors.New("The current CA Provider does not support cross-signing. " +
+				"You can try again with ForceWithoutCrossSigningSet but this may cause " +
+				"disruption - see documentation for more.")
+		}
+		if !canXSign && args.Config.ForceWithoutCrossSigning {
+			c.logger.Warn("current CA doesn't support cross signing but " +
+				"CA reconfiguration forced anyway with ForceWithoutCrossSigning")
+		}
+
+		if canXSign {
+			// Have the old provider cross-sign the new root
+			xcCert, err := oldProvider.CrossSignCA(newRoot)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			// Add the cross signed cert to the new CA's intermediates (to be attached
+			// to leaf certs).
+			newActiveRoot.IntermediateCerts = []string{xcCert}
+		}
 	}
 
 	intermediate, err := newProvider.GenerateIntermediate()
@@ -831,8 +936,8 @@ func (c *CAManager) UpdateConfiguration(args *structs.CARequest) error {
 	cleanupNewProvider = false
 	c.setCAProvider(newProvider, newActiveRoot)
 
-	if err := oldProvider.Cleanup(); err != nil {
-		c.logger.Warn("failed to clean up old provider", "provider", config.Provider)
+	if err := oldProvider.Cleanup(args.Config.Provider != config.Provider, args.Config.Config); err != nil {
+		c.logger.Warn("failed to clean up old provider", "provider", config.Provider, "error", err)
 	}
 
 	c.logger.Info("CA rotated to new root under provider", "provider", args.Config.Provider)
@@ -924,10 +1029,10 @@ func (c *CAManager) intermediateCertRenewalWatch(ctx context.Context) error {
 func (c *CAManager) RenewIntermediate(ctx context.Context, isPrimary bool) error {
 	// Grab the 'lock' right away so the provider/config can't be changed out while we check
 	// the intermediate.
-	if err := c.setState(CAStateRenewIntermediate, true); err != nil {
+	if _, err := c.setState(caStateRenewIntermediate, true); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	defer c.setState(CAStateReady, false)
+	defer c.setState(caStateInitialized, false)
 
 	provider, _ := c.getCAProvider()
 	if provider == nil {
@@ -1053,10 +1158,10 @@ func (c *CAManager) secondaryCARootWatch(ctx context.Context) error {
 // certificate if necessary.
 func (c *CAManager) UpdateRoots(roots structs.IndexedCARoots) error {
 	// Update the state first to claim the 'lock'.
-	if err := c.setState(CAStateReconfig, true); err != nil {
+	if _, err := c.setState(caStateReconfig, true); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	defer c.setState(CAStateReady, false)
+	defer c.setState(caStateInitialized, false)
 
 	// Update the cached primary roots now that the lock is held.
 	if err := c.setPrimaryRoots(roots); err != nil {
@@ -1125,7 +1230,7 @@ func (c *CAManager) setSecondaryCA() error {
 	c.stateLock.Lock()
 	defer c.stateLock.Unlock()
 
-	if c.state == CAStateInitializing || c.state == CAStateReconfig {
+	if c.state == caStateInitializing || c.state == caStateReconfig {
 		c.actingSecondaryCA = true
 	} else {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Cannot update secondary CA flag in state %q", c.state)
diff --git a/agent/consul/leader_connect_ca_test.go b/agent/consul/leader_connect_ca_test.go
index fc053d647..535c00496 100644
--- a/agent/consul/leader_connect_ca_test.go
+++ b/agent/consul/leader_connect_ca_test.go
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func (m *mockCAProvider) Sign(*x509.CertificateRequest) (string, error)
 func (m *mockCAProvider) SignIntermediate(*x509.CertificateRequest) (string, error) { return "", nil }
 func (m *mockCAProvider) CrossSignCA(*x509.Certificate) (string, error)             { return "", nil }
 func (m *mockCAProvider) SupportsCrossSigning() (bool, error)                       { return false, nil }
-func (m *mockCAProvider) Cleanup() error                                            { return nil }
+func (m *mockCAProvider) Cleanup(_ bool, _ map[string]interface{}) error            { return nil }
 
 func waitForCh(t *testing.T, ch chan string, expected string) {
 	select {
@@ -202,18 +202,18 @@ func TestCAManager_Initialize(t *testing.T) {
 	conf.PrimaryDatacenter = "dc1"
 	conf.Datacenter = "dc2"
 	delegate := NewMockCAServerDelegate(t, conf)
-	manager := NewCAManager(delegate, testutil.Logger(t), conf)
+	manager := NewCAManager(delegate, nil, testutil.Logger(t), conf)
 
 	// Call InitializeCA and then confirm the RPCs and provider calls
 	// happen in the expected order.
-	require.EqualValues(t, CAStateUninitialized, manager.state)
+	require.EqualValues(t, caStateUninitialized, manager.state)
 	errCh := make(chan error)
 	go func() {
 		errCh <- manager.InitializeCA()
 	}()
 
 	waitForCh(t, delegate.callbackCh, "forwardDC/ConnectCA.Roots")
-	require.EqualValues(t, CAStateInitializing, manager.state)
+	require.EqualValues(t, caStateInitializing, manager.state)
 	waitForCh(t, delegate.callbackCh, "provider/GenerateIntermediateCSR")
 	waitForCh(t, delegate.callbackCh, "forwardDC/ConnectCA.SignIntermediate")
 	waitForCh(t, delegate.callbackCh, "provider/SetIntermediate")
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func TestCAManager_Initialize(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("never got result from errCh")
 	}
 
-	require.EqualValues(t, CAStateReady, manager.state)
+	require.EqualValues(t, caStateInitialized, manager.state)
 }
 
 func TestCAManager_UpdateConfigWhileRenewIntermediate(t *testing.T) {
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ func TestCAManager_UpdateConfigWhileRenewIntermediate(t *testing.T) {
 	conf.PrimaryDatacenter = "dc1"
 	conf.Datacenter = "dc2"
 	delegate := NewMockCAServerDelegate(t, conf)
-	manager := NewCAManager(delegate, testutil.Logger(t), conf)
+	manager := NewCAManager(delegate, nil, testutil.Logger(t), conf)
 	initTestManager(t, manager, delegate)
 
 	// Wait half the TTL for the cert to need renewing.
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ func TestCAManager_UpdateConfigWhileRenewIntermediate(t *testing.T) {
 	// Call UpdateConfiguration while RenewIntermediate is still in-flight to
 	// make sure we get an error about the state being occupied.
 	go func() {
-		require.EqualValues(t, CAStateRenewIntermediate, manager.state)
+		require.EqualValues(t, caStateRenewIntermediate, manager.state)
 		require.Error(t, errors.New("already in state"), manager.UpdateConfiguration(&structs.CARequest{}))
 	}()
 
@@ -287,5 +287,5 @@ func TestCAManager_UpdateConfigWhileRenewIntermediate(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("never got result from errCh")
 	}
 
-	require.EqualValues(t, CAStateReady, manager.state)
+	require.EqualValues(t, caStateInitialized, manager.state)
 }
diff --git a/agent/consul/leader_connect_test.go b/agent/consul/leader_connect_test.go
index 9fd781601..12edec091 100644
--- a/agent/consul/leader_connect_test.go
+++ b/agent/consul/leader_connect_test.go
@@ -1204,3 +1204,104 @@ func TestLeader_retryLoopBackoffHandleSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestLeader_Vault_BadCAConfigShouldntPreventLeaderEstablishment(t *testing.T) {
+	ca.SkipIfVaultNotPresent(t)
+
+	testVault := ca.NewTestVaultServer(t)
+	defer testVault.Stop()
+
+	_, s1 := testServerWithConfig(t, func(c *Config) {
+		c.Build = "1.9.1"
+		c.PrimaryDatacenter = "dc1"
+		c.CAConfig = &structs.CAConfiguration{
+			Provider: "vault",
+			Config: map[string]interface{}{
+				"Address":             testVault.Addr,
+				"Token":               "not-the-root",
+				"RootPKIPath":         "pki-root/",
+				"IntermediatePKIPath": "pki-intermediate/",
+			},
+		}
+	})
+	defer s1.Shutdown()
+
+	waitForLeaderEstablishment(t, s1)
+
+	rootsList, activeRoot, err := getTestRoots(s1, "dc1")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Empty(t, rootsList.Roots)
+	require.Nil(t, activeRoot)
+
+	// Now that the leader is up and we have verified that there are no roots / CA init failed,
+	// verify that we can reconfigure away from the bad configuration.
+	newConfig := &structs.CAConfiguration{
+		Provider: "vault",
+		Config: map[string]interface{}{
+			"Address":             testVault.Addr,
+			"Token":               testVault.RootToken,
+			"RootPKIPath":         "pki-root/",
+			"IntermediatePKIPath": "pki-intermediate/",
+		},
+	}
+	{
+		args := &structs.CARequest{
+			Datacenter: "dc1",
+			Config:     newConfig,
+		}
+		var reply interface{}
+
+		retry.Run(t, func(r *retry.R) {
+			require.NoError(r, s1.RPC("ConnectCA.ConfigurationSet", args, &reply))
+		})
+	}
+
+	rootsList, activeRoot, err = getTestRoots(s1, "dc1")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotEmpty(t, rootsList.Roots)
+	require.NotNil(t, activeRoot)
+}
+
+func TestLeader_Consul_BadCAConfigShouldntPreventLeaderEstablishment(t *testing.T) {
+	ca.SkipIfVaultNotPresent(t)
+
+	_, s1 := testServerWithConfig(t, func(c *Config) {
+		c.Build = "1.9.1"
+		c.PrimaryDatacenter = "dc1"
+		c.CAConfig = &structs.CAConfiguration{
+			Provider: "consul",
+			Config: map[string]interface{}{
+				"RootCert": "garbage",
+			},
+		}
+	})
+	defer s1.Shutdown()
+
+	waitForLeaderEstablishment(t, s1)
+
+	rootsList, activeRoot, err := getTestRoots(s1, "dc1")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Empty(t, rootsList.Roots)
+	require.Nil(t, activeRoot)
+
+	newConfig := &structs.CAConfiguration{
+		Provider: "consul",
+		Config:   map[string]interface{}{},
+	}
+	{
+		args := &structs.CARequest{
+			Datacenter: "dc1",
+			Config:     newConfig,
+		}
+		var reply interface{}
+
+		retry.Run(t, func(r *retry.R) {
+			require.NoError(r, s1.RPC("ConnectCA.ConfigurationSet", args, &reply))
+		})
+	}
+
+	rootsList, activeRoot, err = getTestRoots(s1, "dc1")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotEmpty(t, rootsList.Roots)
+	require.NotNil(t, activeRoot)
+}
diff --git a/agent/consul/server.go b/agent/consul/server.go
index 72be18c16..cbb33dc08 100644
--- a/agent/consul/server.go
+++ b/agent/consul/server.go
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ const (
 	intentionMigrationRoutineName         = "intention config entry migration"
 	secondaryCARootWatchRoutineName       = "secondary CA roots watch"
 	intermediateCertRenewWatchRoutineName = "intermediate cert renew watch"
+	backgroundCAInitializationRoutineName = "CA initialization"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -468,7 +469,7 @@ func NewServer(config *Config, flat Deps) (*Server, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Failed to start Raft: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	s.caManager = NewCAManager(&caDelegateWithState{s}, s.loggers.Named(logging.Connect), s.config)
+	s.caManager = NewCAManager(&caDelegateWithState{s}, s.leaderRoutineManager, s.loggers.Named(logging.Connect), s.config)
 	if s.config.ConnectEnabled && (s.config.AutoEncryptAllowTLS || s.config.AutoConfigAuthzEnabled) {
 		go s.connectCARootsMonitor(&lib.StopChannelContext{StopCh: s.shutdownCh})
 	}
diff --git a/agent/consul/server_connect.go b/agent/consul/server_connect.go
index e854d813a..940168429 100644
--- a/agent/consul/server_connect.go
+++ b/agent/consul/server_connect.go
@@ -134,9 +134,9 @@ func (s *Server) getCARoots(ws memdb.WatchSet, state *state.Store) (*structs.Ind
 func (s *Server) SignCertificate(csr *x509.CertificateRequest, spiffeID connect.CertURI) (*structs.IssuedCert, error) {
 	provider, caRoot := s.caManager.getCAProvider()
 	if provider == nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("internal error: CA provider is nil")
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("CA is uninitialized and unable to sign certificates yet: provider is nil")
 	} else if caRoot == nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("internal error: CA root is nil")
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("CA is uninitialized and unable to sign certificates yet: no root certificate")
 	}
 
 	// Verify that the CSR entity is in the cluster's trust domain