diff --git a/go/vt/discovery/tablet_picker.go b/go/vt/discovery/tablet_picker.go
index 6eaebdcac1b..b95e08120f2 100644
--- a/go/vt/discovery/tablet_picker.go
+++ b/go/vt/discovery/tablet_picker.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"math/rand"
+	"slices"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ type TabletPicker struct {
 	inOrder       bool
 	cellPref      TabletPickerCellPreference
 	localCellInfo localCellInfo
-	ignoreTablets map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias
+	ignoreTablets []string
 }
 
 // NewTabletPicker returns a TabletPicker.
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ func NewTabletPicker(
 	cells []string,
 	localCell, keyspace, shard, tabletTypesStr string,
 	options TabletPickerOptions,
-	ignoreTablets map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias,
+	ignoreTablets ...string,
 ) (*TabletPicker, error) {
 	// Keep inOrder parsing here for backward compatability until TabletPickerTabletOrder is fully adopted.
 	if tabletTypesStr == "" {
@@ -419,7 +420,8 @@ func (tp *TabletPicker) GetMatchingTablets(ctx context.Context) []*topo.TabletIn
 
 	tablets := make([]*topo.TabletInfo, 0, len(aliases))
 	for _, tabletAlias := range aliases {
-		tabletInfo, ok := tabletMap[topoproto.TabletAliasString(tabletAlias)]
+		tabletAliasString := topoproto.TabletAliasString(tabletAlias)
+		tabletInfo, ok := tabletMap[tabletAliasString]
 		if !ok {
 			// Either tablet disappeared on us, or we got a partial result
 			// (GetTabletMap ignores topo.ErrNoNode); just log a warning.
@@ -436,8 +438,8 @@ func (tp *TabletPicker) GetMatchingTablets(ctx context.Context) []*topo.TabletIn
 					}
 					return vterrors.New(vtrpcpb.Code_INTERNAL, "tablet is not healthy and serving")
 				}); err == nil || err == io.EOF {
-					// if this tablet is not in the ignore list, then add it as a candidate
-					if _, ok := tp.ignoreTablets[tabletInfo.GetAlias().String()]; !ok {
+					// If this tablet is not in the ignore list, then add it as a candidate.
+					if !slices.Contains(tp.ignoreTablets, tabletAliasString) {
 						tablets = append(tablets, tabletInfo)
 					}
 				}
diff --git a/go/vt/discovery/tablet_picker_test.go b/go/vt/discovery/tablet_picker_test.go
index 0e8d50edee9..9191d161626 100644
--- a/go/vt/discovery/tablet_picker_test.go
+++ b/go/vt/discovery/tablet_picker_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 
 	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/topo"
 	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/topo/memorytopo"
+	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/topo/topoproto"
 
 	querypb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/query"
 	topodatapb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/topodata"
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ func TestPickPrimary(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"otherCell"}, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "primary", TabletPickerOptions{}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"otherCell"}, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "primary", TabletPickerOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	ctx2, cancel2 := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 200*time.Millisecond)
@@ -284,7 +285,7 @@ func TestPickLocalPreferences(t *testing.T) {
 					deleteTablet(t, te, tab)
 				}
 			}()
-			tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, tcase.inCells, tcase.localCell, te.keyspace, te.shard, tcase.inTabletTypes, tcase.options, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+			tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, tcase.inCells, tcase.localCell, te.keyspace, te.shard, tcase.inTabletTypes, tcase.options)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			require.Equal(t, tp.localCellInfo.localCell, tcase.localCell)
 			require.ElementsMatch(t, tp.cells, tcase.tpCells)
@@ -313,7 +314,7 @@ func TestPickCellPreferenceLocalCell(t *testing.T) {
 	defer deleteTablet(t, te, want1)
 
 	// Local cell preference is default
-	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"cella"}, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"cella"}, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	tablet, err := tp.PickForStreaming(ctx)
@@ -348,7 +349,7 @@ func TestPickCellPreferenceLocalAlias(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// test env puts all cells into an alias called "cella"
 	te := newPickerTestEnv(t, ctx, []string{"cell", "otherCell"})
-	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"cella"}, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"cella"}, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// create a tablet in the other cell, it should be picked
@@ -370,7 +371,7 @@ func TestPickUsingCellAsAlias(t *testing.T) {
 	// added to the alias.
 	te := newPickerTestEnv(t, ctx, []string{"cell1", "cell2", "cell3"}, "xtracell")
 	// Specify the alias as the cell.
-	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"cella"}, "cell1", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"cella"}, "cell1", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Create a tablet in one of the main cells, it should be
@@ -399,14 +400,11 @@ func TestPickWithIgnoreList(t *testing.T) {
 	want := addTablet(ctx, te, 101, topodatapb.TabletType_REPLICA, "cell1", true, true)
 	defer deleteTablet(t, te, want)
 
-	noWant := addTablet(ctx, te, 102, topodatapb.TabletType_REPLICA, "cell1", true, true)
-	defer deleteTablet(t, te, noWant)
-
-	ignoreTablets := make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias)
-	ignoreTablets[noWant.Alias.String()] = noWant.GetAlias()
+	dontWant := addTablet(ctx, te, 102, topodatapb.TabletType_REPLICA, "cell1", true, true)
+	defer deleteTablet(t, te, dontWant)
 
 	// Specify the alias as the cell.
-	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"cella"}, "cell1", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{}, ignoreTablets)
+	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"cella"}, "cell1", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{}, topoproto.TabletAliasString(dontWant.GetAlias()))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Try it many times to be sure we don't ever pick from the ignore list
@@ -425,7 +423,7 @@ func TestPickUsingCellAliasOnlySpecified(t *testing.T) {
 	want1 := addTablet(ctx, te, 100, topodatapb.TabletType_REPLICA, "cell", true, true)
 	defer deleteTablet(t, te, want1)
 
-	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"cella"}, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{CellPreference: "OnlySpecified"}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, []string{"cella"}, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{CellPreference: "OnlySpecified"})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	tablet, err := tp.PickForStreaming(ctx)
@@ -468,7 +466,7 @@ func TestTabletAppearsDuringSleep(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := utils.LeakCheckContextTimeout(t, 200*time.Millisecond)
 
 	te := newPickerTestEnv(t, ctx, []string{"cell"})
-	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, te.cells, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, te.cells, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	delay := GetTabletPickerRetryDelay()
@@ -498,11 +496,10 @@ func TestPickErrorLocalPreferenceDefault(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := utils.LeakCheckContext(t)
 
 	te := newPickerTestEnv(t, ctx, []string{"cell"})
-	var ignoreTablets map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias
-	_, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, te.cells, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "badtype", TabletPickerOptions{}, ignoreTablets)
+	_, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, te.cells, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "badtype", TabletPickerOptions{})
 	assert.EqualError(t, err, "failed to parse list of tablet types: badtype")
 
-	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, te.cells, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{}, ignoreTablets)
+	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, te.cells, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	delay := GetTabletPickerRetryDelay()
 	defer func() {
@@ -530,7 +527,7 @@ func TestPickErrorOnlySpecified(t *testing.T) {
 
 	te := newPickerTestEnv(t, ctx, []string{"cell"})
 
-	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, te.cells, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{CellPreference: "OnlySpecified"}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, te.cells, "cell", te.keyspace, te.shard, "replica", TabletPickerOptions{CellPreference: "OnlySpecified"})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	delay := GetTabletPickerRetryDelay()
 	defer func() {
@@ -586,7 +583,7 @@ func TestPickFallbackType(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, cells, localCell, te.keyspace, te.shard, tabletTypes, options, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+	tp, err := NewTabletPicker(ctx, te.topoServ, cells, localCell, te.keyspace, te.shard, tabletTypes, options)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	ctx2, cancel2 := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 1*time.Second)
 	defer cancel2()
diff --git a/go/vt/vtctl/workflow/utils.go b/go/vt/vtctl/workflow/utils.go
index 1c5c07d90fb..1a723c6192c 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtctl/workflow/utils.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtctl/workflow/utils.go
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ func areTabletsAvailableToStreamFrom(ctx context.Context, req *vtctldatapb.Workf
 			if cells == nil {
 				cells = append(cells, shard.PrimaryAlias.Cell)
 			}
-			tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, ts.ws.ts, cells, shard.PrimaryAlias.Cell, keyspace, shard.ShardName(), tabletTypesStr, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+			tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, ts.ws.ts, cells, shard.PrimaryAlias.Cell, keyspace, shard.ShardName(), tabletTypesStr, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{})
 			if err != nil {
 				allErrors.RecordError(err)
 				return
diff --git a/go/vt/vtgate/vstream_manager.go b/go/vt/vtgate/vstream_manager.go
index c8694606ec2..734dfaf6f2e 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtgate/vstream_manager.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtgate/vstream_manager.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	querypb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/query"
 	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/servenv"
 	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/topo"
+	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/topo/topoproto"
 
 	"vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/log"
 	binlogdatapb "vitess.io/vitess/go/vt/proto/binlogdata"
@@ -474,7 +475,7 @@ func (vs *vstream) streamFromTablet(ctx context.Context, sgtid *binlogdatapb.Sha
 	// journalDone is assigned a channel when a journal event is encountered.
 	// It will be closed when all journal events converge.
 	var journalDone chan struct{}
-	ignoreTablets := make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias)
+	ignoreTablets := []string{}
 
 	errCount := 0
 	for {
@@ -492,12 +493,17 @@ func (vs *vstream) streamFromTablet(ctx context.Context, sgtid *binlogdatapb.Sha
 		var eventss [][]*binlogdatapb.VEvent
 		var err error
 		cells := vs.getCells()
-		tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, vs.ts, cells, vs.vsm.cell, sgtid.Keyspace, sgtid.Shard, vs.tabletType.String(), vs.tabletPickerOptions, ignoreTablets)
+
+		// Create a child context with a stricter timeout.
+		tpCtx, tpCancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 60*time.Second)
+		defer tpCancel()
+
+		tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(tpCtx, vs.ts, cells, vs.vsm.cell, sgtid.Keyspace, sgtid.Shard, vs.tabletType.String(), vs.tabletPickerOptions, ignoreTablets...)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Errorf(err.Error())
 			return err
 		}
-		tablet, err := tp.PickForStreaming(ctx)
+		tablet, err := tp.PickForStreaming(tpCtx)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Errorf(err.Error())
 			return err
@@ -673,16 +679,17 @@ func (vs *vstream) streamFromTablet(ctx context.Context, sgtid *binlogdatapb.Sha
 			err = vterrors.Errorf(vtrpcpb.Code_UNKNOWN, "vstream ended unexpectedly")
 		}
 
-		retry, ignoreTablet := vs.isRetriableError(err)
+		retry, ignoreTablet := vs.shouldRetry(err)
 		if !retry {
 			log.Errorf("vstream for %s/%s error: %v", sgtid.Keyspace, sgtid.Shard, err)
 			return err
 		}
 		if ignoreTablet {
-			ignoreTablets[tablet.Alias.String()] = tablet.GetAlias()
+			ignoreTablets = append(ignoreTablets, topoproto.TabletAliasString(tablet.GetAlias()))
 		}
 
 		errCount++
+		// Retry, at most, 3 times if the error can be retried.
 		if errCount >= 3 {
 			log.Errorf("vstream for %s/%s had three consecutive failures: %v", sgtid.Keyspace, sgtid.Shard, err)
 			return err
@@ -691,20 +698,23 @@ func (vs *vstream) streamFromTablet(ctx context.Context, sgtid *binlogdatapb.Sha
 	}
 }
 
-// isRetriable determines whether we should exit immediately or retry the vstream.
-// The first return value determines if the error is retriable, the second indicates whether
+// shouldRetry determines whether we should exit immediately or retry the vstream.
+// The first return value determines if the error can be retried, the second indicates whether
 // the tablet on which the error occurred should be ommitted from the candidate list of tablets
 // to choose from on the retry.
-func (vs *vstream) isRetriableError(err error) (bool, bool) {
+//
+// An error should be retried if it is expected to be transient.
+// A tablet should be ignored upon retry if it's likely another tablet will succeed without the same error.
+func (vs *vstream) shouldRetry(err error) (bool, bool) {
 	errCode := vterrors.Code(err)
 
 	if errCode == vtrpcpb.Code_FAILED_PRECONDITION || errCode == vtrpcpb.Code_UNAVAILABLE {
 		return true, false
 	}
 
-	// If there is a GTIDSet Mismatch on the tablet or if the tablet cannot be found,
+	// If there is a GTIDSet Mismatch on the tablet,
 	// omit it from the candidate list in the TabletPicker on retry.
-	if (errCode == vtrpcpb.Code_INVALID_ARGUMENT && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "GTIDSet Mismatch")) || errCode == vtrpcpb.Code_NOT_FOUND {
+	if errCode == vtrpcpb.Code_INVALID_ARGUMENT && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "GTIDSet Mismatch") {
 		return true, true
 	}
 
diff --git a/go/vt/vtgate/vstream_manager_test.go b/go/vt/vtgate/vstream_manager_test.go
index 74c975e58a6..55575be1db4 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtgate/vstream_manager_test.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtgate/vstream_manager_test.go
@@ -410,13 +410,6 @@ func TestVStreamRetriableErrors(t *testing.T) {
 			shouldRetry:  true,
 			ignoreTablet: true,
 		},
-		{
-			name:         "not found",
-			code:         vtrpcpb.Code_NOT_FOUND,
-			msg:          "",
-			shouldRetry:  true,
-			ignoreTablet: true,
-		},
 		{
 			name:         "unavailable",
 			code:         vtrpcpb.Code_UNAVAILABLE,
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vdiff/table_differ.go b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vdiff/table_differ.go
index e2cad685e2c..e65a0bad253 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vdiff/table_differ.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vdiff/table_differ.go
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ func (td *tableDiffer) selectTablets(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func pickTablet(ctx context.Context, ts *topo.Server, cells []string, localCell, keyspace, shard, tabletTypes string) (*topodata.Tablet, error) {
-	tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, ts, cells, localCell, keyspace, shard, tabletTypes, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{}, make(map[string]*topodata.TabletAlias))
+	tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, ts, cells, localCell, keyspace, shard, tabletTypes, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/controller.go b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/controller.go
index 7c72243ab2b..94e4741eeee 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/controller.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/controller.go
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func newController(ctx context.Context, params map[string]string, dbClientFactor
 				return nil, err
 			}
 		}
-		tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, sourceTopo, cells, ct.vre.cell, ct.source.Keyspace, ct.source.Shard, tabletTypesStr, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+		tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, sourceTopo, cells, ct.vre.cell, ct.source.Keyspace, ct.source.Shard, tabletTypesStr, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{})
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
diff --git a/go/vt/wrangler/traffic_switcher.go b/go/vt/wrangler/traffic_switcher.go
index a2ffa1a1675..654a5bd1588 100644
--- a/go/vt/wrangler/traffic_switcher.go
+++ b/go/vt/wrangler/traffic_switcher.go
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ func (wr *Wrangler) areTabletsAvailableToStreamFrom(ctx context.Context, ts *tra
 			if cells == nil {
 				cells = append(cells, shard.PrimaryAlias.Cell)
 			}
-			tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, wr.ts, cells, shard.PrimaryAlias.Cell, keyspace, shard.ShardName(), tabletTypes, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+			tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, wr.ts, cells, shard.PrimaryAlias.Cell, keyspace, shard.ShardName(), tabletTypes, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{})
 			if err != nil {
 				allErrors.RecordError(err)
 				return
diff --git a/go/vt/wrangler/vdiff.go b/go/vt/wrangler/vdiff.go
index c18e51cb93e..85c82bb3574 100644
--- a/go/vt/wrangler/vdiff.go
+++ b/go/vt/wrangler/vdiff.go
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ func (df *vdiff) selectTablets(ctx context.Context, ts *trafficSwitcher) error {
 			if ts.ExternalTopo() != nil {
 				sourceTopo = ts.ExternalTopo()
 			}
-			tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, sourceTopo, []string{df.sourceCell}, df.sourceCell, df.ts.SourceKeyspaceName(), shard, df.tabletTypesStr, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+			tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, sourceTopo, []string{df.sourceCell}, df.sourceCell, df.ts.SourceKeyspaceName(), shard, df.tabletTypesStr, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{})
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -828,7 +828,7 @@ func (df *vdiff) selectTablets(ctx context.Context, ts *trafficSwitcher) error {
 	go func() {
 		defer wg.Done()
 		err2 = df.forAll(df.targets, func(shard string, target *shardStreamer) error {
-			tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, df.ts.TopoServer(), []string{df.targetCell}, df.targetCell, df.ts.TargetKeyspaceName(), shard, df.tabletTypesStr, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{}, make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias))
+			tp, err := discovery.NewTabletPicker(ctx, df.ts.TopoServer(), []string{df.targetCell}, df.targetCell, df.ts.TargetKeyspaceName(), shard, df.tabletTypesStr, discovery.TabletPickerOptions{})
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/tools/rowlog/rowlog.go b/tools/rowlog/rowlog.go
index 7e11ba0886e..475006b2b59 100644
--- a/tools/rowlog/rowlog.go
+++ b/tools/rowlog/rowlog.go
@@ -389,7 +389,6 @@ func getTablet(ctx context.Context, ts *topo.Server, cells []string, keyspace st
 		discovery.TabletPickerOptions{
 			CellPreference: "OnlySpecified",
 		},
-		make(map[string]*topodatapb.TabletAlias),
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ""