diff --git a/changelog/24325.txt b/changelog/24325.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ab5ce613c404
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/24325.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+```release-note:change
+identity (enterprise): POST requests to the `/identity/entity/merge` endpoint
+are now always forwarded from standbys to the active node.
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/vault/identity_store_entities.go b/vault/identity_store_entities.go
index 05c83c7bd2b0..6094339c4e84 100644
--- a/vault/identity_store_entities.go
+++ b/vault/identity_store_entities.go
@@ -231,7 +231,8 @@ func entityPaths(i *IdentityStore) []*framework.Path {
 			},
 			Operations: map[logical.Operation]framework.OperationHandler{
 				logical.UpdateOperation: &framework.PathOperation{
-					Callback: i.pathEntityMergeID(),
+					Callback:                  i.pathEntityMergeID(),
+					ForwardPerformanceStandby: true,
 				},
 			},