diff --git a/src/v/raft/state_machine_manager.cc b/src/v/raft/state_machine_manager.cc
index d0f91ef83f2db..0ea076b3d9bba 100644
--- a/src/v/raft/state_machine_manager.cc
+++ b/src/v/raft/state_machine_manager.cc
@@ -363,6 +363,18 @@ ss::future<> state_machine_manager::try_apply_in_foreground() {
           batch_applicator(default_ctx, machines, _as, _log),
           model::no_timeout);
 
+        if (max_last_applied == model::offset{}) {
+            vlog(
+              _log.warn,
+              "no progress has been made during state machine apply. Current "
+              "next offset: {}",
+              _next);
+            /**
+             * If no progress has been made, yield to prevent busy looping
+             */
+            co_await ss::sleep_abortable(100ms, _as);
+            co_return;
+        }
         _next = std::max(model::next_offset(max_last_applied), _next);
         vlog(_log.trace, "updating _next offset with: {}", _next);
     } catch (const ss::timed_out_error&) {
@@ -433,10 +445,13 @@ ss::future<> state_machine_manager::background_apply_fiber(
         try {
             model::record_batch_reader reader = co_await _raft->make_reader(
               config);
-            co_await std::move(reader).consume(
+            auto last_applied_before = entry->stm->last_applied_offset();
+            auto last_applied_after = co_await std::move(reader).consume(
               batch_applicator(background_ctx, {entry}, _as, _log),
               model::no_timeout);
-
+            if (last_applied_before >= last_applied_after) {
+                error = true;
+            }
         } catch (...) {
             error = true;
             vlog(
@@ -446,7 +461,7 @@ ss::future<> state_machine_manager::background_apply_fiber(
               std::current_exception());
         }
         if (error) {
-            co_await ss::sleep_abortable(1s, _as);
+            co_await ss::sleep_abortable(100ms, _as);
         }
     }
     units.return_all();