diff --git a/packages/cli/src/scaling/multi-main-setup.ee.ts b/packages/cli/src/scaling/multi-main-setup.ee.ts
index 52f186bdcc..aa977ddc6a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/scaling/multi-main-setup.ee.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/scaling/multi-main-setup.ee.ts
@@ -108,15 +108,17 @@ export class MultiMainSetup extends TypedEmitter<MultiMainEvents> {
 		const { hostId } = this.instanceSettings;
 
 		// this can only succeed if leadership is currently vacant
-		const keySetSuccessfully = await this.publisher.setIfNotExists(this.leaderKey, hostId);
+		const keySetSuccessfully = await this.publisher.setIfNotExists(
+			this.leaderKey,
+			hostId,
+			this.leaderKeyTtl,
+		);
 
 		if (keySetSuccessfully) {
 			this.logger.debug(`[Instance ID ${hostId}] Leader is now this instance`);
 
 			this.instanceSettings.markAsLeader();
 
-			await this.publisher.setExpiration(this.leaderKey, this.leaderKeyTtl);
-
 			this.emit('leader-takeover');
 		} else {
 			this.instanceSettings.markAsFollower();
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/scaling/pubsub/publisher.service.ts b/packages/cli/src/scaling/pubsub/publisher.service.ts
index a0d2079704..d70060edfc 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/scaling/pubsub/publisher.service.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/scaling/pubsub/publisher.service.ts
@@ -86,10 +86,9 @@ export class Publisher {
 
 	// @TODO: The following methods are not pubsub-specific. Consider a dedicated client for multi-main setup.
 
-	async setIfNotExists(key: string, value: string) {
-		const success = await this.client.setnx(key, value);
-
-		return !!success;
+	async setIfNotExists(key: string, value: string, ttl: number) {
+		const result = await this.client.set(key, value, 'EX', ttl, 'NX');
+		return result === 'OK';
 	}
 
 	async setExpiration(key: string, ttl: number) {