diff --git a/server/etcdserver/api/v3rpc/watch.go b/server/etcdserver/api/v3rpc/watch.go
index 5153007258d..a8d37efa098 100644
--- a/server/etcdserver/api/v3rpc/watch.go
+++ b/server/etcdserver/api/v3rpc/watch.go
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ type serverWatchStream struct {
 	// records fragmented watch IDs
 	fragment map[mvcc.WatchID]bool
 
+	// indicates whether we have an outstanding global progress
+	// notification to send
+	deferredProgress bool
+
 	// closec indicates the stream is closed.
 	closec chan struct{}
 
@@ -174,6 +178,8 @@ func (ws *watchServer) Watch(stream pb.Watch_WatchServer) (err error) {
 		prevKV:   make(map[mvcc.WatchID]bool),
 		fragment: make(map[mvcc.WatchID]bool),
 
+		deferredProgress: false,
+
 		closec: make(chan struct{}),
 	}
 
@@ -360,10 +366,16 @@ func (sws *serverWatchStream) recvLoop() error {
 			}
 		case *pb.WatchRequest_ProgressRequest:
 			if uv.ProgressRequest != nil {
-				sws.ctrlStream <- &pb.WatchResponse{
-					Header:  sws.newResponseHeader(sws.watchStream.Rev()),
-					WatchId: clientv3.InvalidWatchID, // response is not associated with any WatchId and will be broadcast to all watch channels
+				sws.mu.Lock()
+				// Ignore if deferred progress notification is already in progress
+				if !sws.deferredProgress {
+					// Request progress for all watchers,
+					// force generation of a response
+					if !sws.watchStream.RequestProgressAll() {
+						sws.deferredProgress = true
+					}
 				}
+				sws.mu.Unlock()
 			}
 		default:
 			// we probably should not shutdown the entire stream when
@@ -432,11 +444,15 @@ func (sws *serverWatchStream) sendLoop() {
 				Canceled:        canceled,
 			}
 
-			if _, okID := ids[wresp.WatchID]; !okID {
-				// buffer if id not yet announced
-				wrs := append(pending[wresp.WatchID], wr)
-				pending[wresp.WatchID] = wrs
-				continue
+			// Progress notifications can have WatchID -1
+			// if they announce on behalf of multiple watchers
+			if wresp.WatchID != clientv3.InvalidWatchID {
+				if _, okID := ids[wresp.WatchID]; !okID {
+					// buffer if id not yet announced
+					wrs := append(pending[wresp.WatchID], wr)
+					pending[wresp.WatchID] = wrs
+					continue
+				}
 			}
 
 			mvcc.ReportEventReceived(len(evs))
@@ -467,6 +483,11 @@ func (sws *serverWatchStream) sendLoop() {
 				// elide next progress update if sent a key update
 				sws.progress[wresp.WatchID] = false
 			}
+			if sws.deferredProgress {
+				if sws.watchStream.RequestProgressAll() {
+					sws.deferredProgress = false
+				}
+			}
 			sws.mu.Unlock()
 
 		case c, ok := <-sws.ctrlStream:
diff --git a/server/storage/mvcc/watchable_store.go b/server/storage/mvcc/watchable_store.go
index f0d056f286d..4e7b5a71407 100644
--- a/server/storage/mvcc/watchable_store.go
+++ b/server/storage/mvcc/watchable_store.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/api/v3/mvccpb"
+	clientv3 "go.etcd.io/etcd/client/v3"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/pkg/v3/traceutil"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/lease"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/storage/backend"
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ var (
 type watchable interface {
 	watch(key, end []byte, startRev int64, id WatchID, ch chan<- WatchResponse, fcs ...FilterFunc) (*watcher, cancelFunc)
 	progress(w *watcher)
+	progressAll(watchers map[WatchID]*watcher) bool
 	rev() int64
 }
 
@@ -475,14 +477,34 @@ func (s *watchableStore) addVictim(victim watcherBatch) {
 func (s *watchableStore) rev() int64 { return s.store.Rev() }
 
 func (s *watchableStore) progress(w *watcher) {
+	s.progressIfSync(map[WatchID]*watcher{w.id: w}, w.id)
+}
+
+func (s *watchableStore) progressAll(watchers map[WatchID]*watcher) bool {
+	return s.progressIfSync(watchers, clientv3.InvalidWatchID)
+}
+
+func (s *watchableStore) progressIfSync(watchers map[WatchID]*watcher, responseWatchID WatchID) bool {
 	s.mu.RLock()
 	defer s.mu.RUnlock()
 
-	if _, ok := s.synced.watchers[w]; ok {
-		w.send(WatchResponse{WatchID: w.id, Revision: s.rev()})
-		// If the ch is full, this watcher is receiving events.
-		// We do not need to send progress at all.
+	// Any watcher unsynced?
+	for _, w := range watchers {
+		if _, ok := s.synced.watchers[w]; !ok {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+
+	// If all watchers are synchronised, send out progress
+	// notification on first watcher. Note that all watchers
+	// should have the same underlying stream, and the progress
+	// notification will be broadcasted client-side if required
+	// (see dispatchEvent in client/v3/watch.go)
+	for _, w := range watchers {
+		w.send(WatchResponse{WatchID: responseWatchID, Revision: s.rev()})
+		return true
 	}
+	return true
 }
 
 type watcher struct {
diff --git a/server/storage/mvcc/watcher.go b/server/storage/mvcc/watcher.go
index 7d2490b1d6e..c67c21d6139 100644
--- a/server/storage/mvcc/watcher.go
+++ b/server/storage/mvcc/watcher.go
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ type WatchStream interface {
 	// of the watchers since the watcher is currently synced.
 	RequestProgress(id WatchID)
 
+	// RequestProgressAll requests a progress notification for all
+	// watchers sharing the stream.  If all watchers are synced, a
+	// progress notification with watch ID -1 will be sent to an
+	// arbitrary watcher of this stream, and the function returns
+	// true.
+	RequestProgressAll() bool
+
 	// Cancel cancels a watcher by giving its ID. If watcher does not exist, an error will be
 	// returned.
 	Cancel(id WatchID) error
@@ -188,3 +195,9 @@ func (ws *watchStream) RequestProgress(id WatchID) {
 	}
 	ws.watchable.progress(w)
 }
+
+func (ws *watchStream) RequestProgressAll() bool {
+	ws.mu.Lock()
+	defer ws.mu.Unlock()
+	return ws.watchable.progressAll(ws.watchers)
+}
diff --git a/server/storage/mvcc/watcher_test.go b/server/storage/mvcc/watcher_test.go
index b86e31a5542..41bbb510875 100644
--- a/server/storage/mvcc/watcher_test.go
+++ b/server/storage/mvcc/watcher_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"go.uber.org/zap/zaptest"
 
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/api/v3/mvccpb"
+	clientv3 "go.etcd.io/etcd/client/v3"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/lease"
 	betesting "go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/storage/backend/testing"
 )
@@ -342,6 +343,55 @@ func TestWatcherRequestProgress(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestWatcherRequestProgressAll(t *testing.T) {
+	b, _ := betesting.NewDefaultTmpBackend(t)
+
+	// manually create watchableStore instead of newWatchableStore
+	// because newWatchableStore automatically calls syncWatchers
+	// method to sync watchers in unsynced map. We want to keep watchers
+	// in unsynced to test if syncWatchers works as expected.
+	s := &watchableStore{
+		store:    NewStore(zaptest.NewLogger(t), b, &lease.FakeLessor{}, StoreConfig{}),
+		unsynced: newWatcherGroup(),
+		synced:   newWatcherGroup(),
+		stopc:    make(chan struct{}),
+	}
+
+	defer cleanup(s, b)
+
+	testKey := []byte("foo")
+	notTestKey := []byte("bad")
+	testValue := []byte("bar")
+	s.Put(testKey, testValue, lease.NoLease)
+
+	// Create watch stream with watcher. We will not actually get
+	// any notifications on it specifically, but there needs to be
+	// at least one Watch for progress notifications to get
+	// generated.
+	w := s.NewWatchStream()
+	w.Watch(0, notTestKey, nil, 1)
+
+	w.RequestProgressAll()
+	select {
+	case resp := <-w.Chan():
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected %+v", resp)
+	default:
+	}
+
+	s.syncWatchers()
+
+	w.RequestProgressAll()
+	wrs := WatchResponse{WatchID: clientv3.InvalidWatchID, Revision: 2}
+	select {
+	case resp := <-w.Chan():
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(resp, wrs) {
+			t.Fatalf("got %+v, expect %+v", resp, wrs)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("failed to receive progress")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestWatcherWatchWithFilter(t *testing.T) {
 	b, _ := betesting.NewDefaultTmpBackend(t)
 	s := WatchableKV(newWatchableStore(zaptest.NewLogger(t), b, &lease.FakeLessor{}, StoreConfig{}))
diff --git a/tests/integration/v3_watch_test.go b/tests/integration/v3_watch_test.go
index c2a4fa57645..ead81abc174 100644
--- a/tests/integration/v3_watch_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/v3_watch_test.go
@@ -1397,3 +1397,71 @@ func TestV3WatchCloseCancelRace(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected %s watch, got %s", expected, minWatches)
 	}
 }
+
+// TestV3WatchProgressWaitsForSync checks that progress notifications
+// don't get sent until the watcher is synchronised
+func TestV3WatchProgressWaitsForSync(t *testing.T) {
+
+	// Disable for gRPC proxy, as it does not support requesting
+	// progress notifications
+	if integration.ThroughProxy {
+		t.Skip("grpc proxy currently does not support requesting progress notifications")
+	}
+
+	integration.BeforeTest(t)
+
+	clus := integration.NewCluster(t, &integration.ClusterConfig{Size: 1})
+	defer clus.Terminate(t)
+
+	client := clus.RandClient()
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	// Write a couple values into key to make sure there's a
+	// non-trivial amount of history.
+	count := 1001
+	t.Logf("Writing key 'foo' %d times", count)
+	for i := 0; i < count; i++ {
+		_, err := client.Put(ctx, "foo", fmt.Sprintf("bar%d", i))
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	}
+
+	// Create watch channel starting at revision 1 (i.e. it starts
+	// unsynced because of the update above)
+	wch := client.Watch(ctx, "foo", clientv3.WithRev(1))
+
+	// Immediately request a progress notification. As the client
+	// is unsynchronised, the server will have to defer the
+	// notification internally.
+	err := client.RequestProgress(ctx)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Verify that we get the watch responses first. Note that
+	// events might be spread across multiple packets.
+	var event_count = 0
+	for event_count < count {
+		wr := <-wch
+		if wr.Err() != nil {
+			t.Fatal(fmt.Errorf("watch error: %w", wr.Err()))
+		}
+		if wr.IsProgressNotify() {
+			t.Fatal("Progress notification from unsynced client!")
+		}
+		if wr.Header.Revision != int64(count+1) {
+			t.Fatal("Incomplete watch response!")
+		}
+		event_count += len(wr.Events)
+	}
+
+	// ... followed by the requested progress notification
+	wr2 := <-wch
+	if wr2.Err() != nil {
+		t.Fatal(fmt.Errorf("watch error: %w", wr2.Err()))
+	}
+	if !wr2.IsProgressNotify() {
+		t.Fatal("Did not receive progress notification!")
+	}
+	if wr2.Header.Revision != int64(count+1) {
+		t.Fatal("Wrong revision in progress notification!")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/tests/robustness/linearizability_test.go b/tests/robustness/linearizability_test.go
index 358533e1f16..070556c75fd 100644
--- a/tests/robustness/linearizability_test.go
+++ b/tests/robustness/linearizability_test.go
@@ -36,10 +36,11 @@ const (
 
 var (
 	LowTraffic = trafficConfig{
-		name:        "LowTraffic",
-		minimalQPS:  100,
-		maximalQPS:  200,
-		clientCount: 8,
+		name:            "LowTraffic",
+		minimalQPS:      100,
+		maximalQPS:      200,
+		clientCount:     8,
+		requestProgress: false,
 		traffic: traffic{
 			keyCount:     10,
 			leaseTTL:     DefaultLeaseTTL,
@@ -56,10 +57,11 @@ var (
 		},
 	}
 	HighTraffic = trafficConfig{
-		name:        "HighTraffic",
-		minimalQPS:  200,
-		maximalQPS:  1000,
-		clientCount: 12,
+		name:            "HighTraffic",
+		minimalQPS:      200,
+		maximalQPS:      1000,
+		clientCount:     12,
+		requestProgress: false,
 		traffic: traffic{
 			keyCount:     10,
 			largePutSize: 32769,
@@ -71,6 +73,22 @@ var (
 			},
 		},
 	}
+	ReqProgTraffic = trafficConfig{
+		name:            "RequestProgressTraffic",
+		minimalQPS:      200,
+		maximalQPS:      1000,
+		clientCount:     12,
+		requestProgress: true,
+		traffic: traffic{
+			keyCount:     10,
+			largePutSize: 8196,
+			leaseTTL:     DefaultLeaseTTL,
+			writes: []requestChance{
+				{operation: Put, chance: 95},
+				{operation: LargePut, chance: 5},
+			},
+		},
+	}
 	defaultTraffic = LowTraffic
 	trafficList    = []trafficConfig{
 		LowTraffic, HighTraffic,
@@ -141,6 +159,14 @@ func TestRobustness(t *testing.T) {
 			e2e.WithSnapshotCount(100),
 		),
 	})
+	scenarios = append(scenarios, scenario{
+		name:      "Issue15220",
+		failpoint: RandomOneNodeClusterFailpoint,
+		traffic:   &ReqProgTraffic,
+		config: *e2e.NewConfig(
+			e2e.WithClusterSize(1),
+		),
+	})
 	snapshotOptions := []e2e.EPClusterOption{
 		e2e.WithGoFailEnabled(true),
 		e2e.WithSnapshotCount(100),
@@ -191,7 +217,7 @@ func testRobustness(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, lg *zap.Logger, config e2
 	forcestopCluster(r.clus)
 
 	watchProgressNotifyEnabled := r.clus.Cfg.WatchProcessNotifyInterval != 0
-	validateWatchResponses(t, r.responses, watchProgressNotifyEnabled)
+	validateWatchResponses(t, r.responses, traffic.requestProgress || watchProgressNotifyEnabled)
 
 	r.events = watchEvents(r.responses)
 	validateEventsMatch(t, r.events)
@@ -218,7 +244,7 @@ func runScenario(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, lg *zap.Logger, clus *e2e.Et
 		return nil
 	})
 	g.Go(func() error {
-		responses = collectClusterWatchEvents(ctx, t, clus, maxRevisionChan)
+		responses = collectClusterWatchEvents(ctx, t, clus, maxRevisionChan, traffic.requestProgress)
 		return nil
 	})
 	g.Wait()
diff --git a/tests/robustness/traffic.go b/tests/robustness/traffic.go
index 84298957023..fa5889fc94e 100644
--- a/tests/robustness/traffic.go
+++ b/tests/robustness/traffic.go
@@ -109,11 +109,12 @@ func simulateTraffic(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, lg *zap.Logger, clus *e2
 }
 
 type trafficConfig struct {
-	name        string
-	minimalQPS  float64
-	maximalQPS  float64
-	clientCount int
-	traffic     Traffic
+	name            string
+	minimalQPS      float64
+	maximalQPS      float64
+	clientCount     int
+	traffic         Traffic
+	requestProgress bool // Request progress notifications while watching this traffic
 }
 
 type Traffic interface {
diff --git a/tests/robustness/watch.go b/tests/robustness/watch.go
index 9038d961876..79ba408a656 100644
--- a/tests/robustness/watch.go
+++ b/tests/robustness/watch.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/tests/v3/robustness/model"
 )
 
-func collectClusterWatchEvents(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, clus *e2e.EtcdProcessCluster, maxRevisionChan <-chan int64) [][]watchResponse {
+func collectClusterWatchEvents(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, clus *e2e.EtcdProcessCluster, maxRevisionChan <-chan int64, requestProgress bool) [][]watchResponse {
 	mux := sync.Mutex{}
 	var wg sync.WaitGroup
 	memberResponses := make([][]watchResponse, len(clus.Procs))
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func collectClusterWatchEvents(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, clus *e2e.Etcd
 		go func(i int, c *clientv3.Client) {
 			defer wg.Done()
 			defer c.Close()
-			responses := watchMember(ctx, t, c, memberChan)
+			responses := watchMember(ctx, t, c, memberChan, requestProgress)
 			mux.Lock()
 			memberResponses[i] = responses
 			mux.Unlock()
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func collectClusterWatchEvents(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, clus *e2e.Etcd
 }
 
 // watchMember collects all responses until context is cancelled, it has observed revision provided via maxRevisionChan or maxRevisionChan was closed.
-func watchMember(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, c *clientv3.Client, maxRevisionChan <-chan int64) (resps []watchResponse) {
+func watchMember(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, c *clientv3.Client, maxRevisionChan <-chan int64, requestProgress bool) (resps []watchResponse) {
 	var maxRevision int64 = 0
 	var lastRevision int64 = 0
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
@@ -101,6 +101,9 @@ func watchMember(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, c *clientv3.Client, maxRevis
 				}
 			}
 		case resp := <-watch:
+			if requestProgress {
+				c.RequestProgress(ctx)
+			}
 			if resp.Err() == nil {
 				resps = append(resps, watchResponse{resp, time.Now()})
 			} else if !resp.Canceled {