diff --git a/puppet/services/rabbitmq.yaml b/puppet/services/rabbitmq.yaml
index a1a602019a..b33e82369e 100644
--- a/puppet/services/rabbitmq.yaml
+++ b/puppet/services/rabbitmq.yaml
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ outputs:
               inet_dist_listen_min: '25672'
               inet_dist_listen_max: '25672'
             rabbitmq_config_variables:
-              cluster_partition_handling: 'pause_minority'
+              cluster_partition_handling: 'ignore'
               queue_master_locator: '<<"min-masters">>'
               loopback_users: '[]'
             rabbitmq::erlang_cookie:
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/rabbit-ignore-partitions-0a0ae8c636c256ea.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/rabbit-ignore-partitions-0a0ae8c636c256ea.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8c8db43eb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/rabbit-ignore-partitions-0a0ae8c636c256ea.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Changes the default RabbitMQ partition handling strategy from
+    'pause_minority' to 'ignore', avoiding crashes due to race
+    conditions with nodes starting and stopping concurrently.