diff --git a/pkg/storage/client_raft_test.go b/pkg/storage/client_raft_test.go
index c8d5151e915f..20761094e89d 100644
--- a/pkg/storage/client_raft_test.go
+++ b/pkg/storage/client_raft_test.go
@@ -681,6 +681,74 @@ func TestConcurrentRaftSnapshots(t *testing.T) {
 	mtc.waitForValues(key, []int64{incAB, incAB, incAB, incAB, incAB})
 }
 
+func TestReplicateAfterRemoveAndSplit(t *testing.T) {
+	defer leaktest.AfterTest(t)()
+
+	sc := storage.TestStoreConfig()
+	sc.TestingKnobs.DisableReplicaGCQueue = true
+	mtc := &multiTestContext{storeConfig: &sc}
+	mtc.Start(t, 3)
+	defer mtc.Stop()
+	rng1, err := mtc.stores[0].GetReplica(1)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	mtc.replicateRange(1, 1, 2)
+
+	// Kill store 2.
+	mtc.stopStore(2)
+
+	// Remove store 2 from the range to simulate removal of a dead node.
+	mtc.unreplicateRange(1, 2)
+
+	// Split the range.
+	splitKey := roachpb.Key("m")
+	splitArgs := adminSplitArgs(splitKey, splitKey)
+	if _, err := rng1.AdminSplit(context.Background(), splitArgs, rng1.Desc()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Restart store 2.
+	mtc.restartStore(2)
+
+	replicateRange2 := func() error {
+		// Try to up-replicate range 2 to store 2. We can't use replicateRange
+		// because this should fail on the first attempt and then eventually
+		// succeed.
+		const rangeID = 2
+		startKey := mtc.findStartKeyLocked(rangeID)
+
+		var desc roachpb.RangeDescriptor
+		if err := mtc.dbs[0].GetProto(context.TODO(), keys.RangeDescriptorKey(startKey), &desc); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
+		rep, err := mtc.findMemberStoreLocked(desc).GetReplica(rangeID)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
+		return rep.ChangeReplicas(
+			context.Background(),
+			roachpb.ADD_REPLICA,
+			roachpb.ReplicaDescriptor{
+				NodeID:  mtc.stores[2].Ident.NodeID,
+				StoreID: mtc.stores[2].Ident.StoreID,
+			},
+			&desc,
+		)
+	}
+
+	expected := "snapshot intersects existing range"
+	if err := replicateRange2(); !testutils.IsError(err, expected) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error, but found %v", err)
+	}
+	mtc.stores[2].SetReplicaGCQueueActive(true)
+
+	util.SucceedsSoon(t, replicateRange2)
+}
+
 // Test various mechanism for refreshing pending commands.
 func TestRefreshPendingCommands(t *testing.T) {
 	defer leaktest.AfterTest(t)()
diff --git a/pkg/storage/store.go b/pkg/storage/store.go
index d6bc81339152..24567d94baaf 100644
--- a/pkg/storage/store.go
+++ b/pkg/storage/store.go
@@ -3491,12 +3491,33 @@ func (s *Store) canApplySnapshotLocked(
 		// When such a conflict exists, it will be resolved by one range
 		// either being split or garbage collected.
 		exReplica, err := s.getReplicaLocked(exRange.Desc().RangeID)
+		msg := "snapshot intersects existing range"
+		ctx := s.AnnotateCtx(context.TODO())
 		if err != nil {
-			ctx := s.AnnotateCtx(context.TODO())
 			log.Warning(ctx, errors.Wrapf(
 				err, "unable to look up overlapping replica on %s", exReplica))
+		} else {
+			inactive := func(r *Replica) bool {
+				if r.RaftStatus() == nil {
+					return true
+				}
+				lease, pendingLease := r.getLease()
+				now := s.Clock().Now()
+				return (lease == nil || !lease.Covers(now)) &&
+					(pendingLease == nil || !pendingLease.Covers(now))
+			}
+
+			// If the existing range shows no signs of recent activity, give it a GC
+			// run.
+			if inactive(exReplica) {
+				if _, err := s.replicaGCQueue.Add(exReplica, replicaGCPriorityCandidate); err != nil {
+					log.Errorf(ctx, "%s: unable to add replica to GC queue: %s", exReplica, err)
+				} else {
+					msg += "; initiated GC: "
+				}
+			}
 		}
-		return nil, errors.Errorf("snapshot intersects existing range %s", exReplica)
+		return nil, errors.Errorf("%s %v", msg, exReplica) // exReplica can be nil
 	}
 
 	placeholder := &ReplicaPlaceholder{