diff --git a/flow/connectors/postgres/cdc.go b/flow/connectors/postgres/cdc.go
index 278f0ed863..3cf42a6dd2 100644
--- a/flow/connectors/postgres/cdc.go
+++ b/flow/connectors/postgres/cdc.go
@@ -164,9 +164,6 @@ func (p *PostgresCDCSource) consumeStream(
 	clientXLogPos pglogrepl.LSN,
 	records *model.CDCRecordStream,
 ) error {
-	standbyMessageTimeout := req.IdleTimeout
-	nextStandbyMessageDeadline := time.Now().Add(standbyMessageTimeout)
-
 	defer func() {
 		err := conn.Close(p.ctx)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -215,9 +212,12 @@ func (p *PostgresCDCSource) consumeStream(
 		}
 	}
 
+	standbyMessageTimeout := req.IdleTimeout
+	nextStandbyMessageDeadline := time.Now().Add(standbyMessageTimeout)
+	pkmRequiresResponse := false
+
 	for {
-		if time.Now().After(nextStandbyMessageDeadline) ||
-			(len(localRecords) >= int(req.MaxBatchSize)) {
+		if pkmRequiresResponse {
 			// Update XLogPos to the last processed position, we can only confirm
 			// that this is the last row committed on the destination.
 			err := pglogrepl.SendStandbyStatusUpdate(p.ctx, conn,
@@ -226,26 +226,41 @@ func (p *PostgresCDCSource) consumeStream(
 				return fmt.Errorf("SendStandbyStatusUpdate failed: %w", err)
 			}
 
-			numRowsProcessedMessage := fmt.Sprintf("processed %d rows", len(localRecords))
-
 			if time.Since(standByLastLogged) > 10*time.Second {
+				numRowsProcessedMessage := fmt.Sprintf("processed %d rows", len(localRecords))
 				log.Infof("Sent Standby status message. %s", numRowsProcessedMessage)
 				standByLastLogged = time.Now()
 			}
 
-			nextStandbyMessageDeadline = time.Now().Add(standbyMessageTimeout)
+			pkmRequiresResponse = false
+		}
 
-			if !p.commitLock && (len(localRecords) >= int(req.MaxBatchSize)) {
-				return nil
+		if time.Now().After(nextStandbyMessageDeadline) {
+			if len(localRecords) <= 1 {
+				log.Infof("pushing the standby deadline to %s", time.Now().Add(standbyMessageTimeout))
+				log.Infof("num records accumulated: %d", len(localRecords))
+				nextStandbyMessageDeadline = time.Now().Add(standbyMessageTimeout)
 			}
 		}
 
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithDeadline(p.ctx, nextStandbyMessageDeadline)
+		if (len(localRecords) >= int(req.MaxBatchSize)) && !p.commitLock {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		var ctx context.Context
+		var cancel context.CancelFunc
+
+		if len(localRecords) == 0 {
+			ctx, cancel = context.WithCancel(p.ctx)
+		} else {
+			ctx, cancel = context.WithDeadline(p.ctx, nextStandbyMessageDeadline)
+		}
+
 		rawMsg, err := conn.ReceiveMessage(ctx)
 		cancel()
 		if err != nil && !p.commitLock {
 			if pgconn.Timeout(err) {
-				log.Infof("Idle timeout reached, returning currently accumulated records - %d", len(localRecords))
+				log.Infof("Stand-by deadline reached, returning currently accumulated records - %d", len(localRecords))
 				return nil
 			} else {
 				return fmt.Errorf("ReceiveMessage failed: %w", err)
@@ -275,8 +290,9 @@ func (p *PostgresCDCSource) consumeStream(
 			if pkm.ServerWALEnd > clientXLogPos {
 				clientXLogPos = pkm.ServerWALEnd
 			}
+
 			if pkm.ReplyRequested {
-				nextStandbyMessageDeadline = time.Time{}
+				pkmRequiresResponse = true
 			}
 
 		case pglogrepl.XLogDataByteID: