diff --git a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/_semaphore.py b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/_semaphore.py
index 3fab1b459e60..a5ec957275f9 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/_semaphore.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/_semaphore.py
@@ -194,11 +194,15 @@ def validate_timeout(
     async def _ensure_semaphore_initialized(self) -> None:
         """Initializes the semaphore in Redis if not already done."""
         assert self.register_semaphore is not None  # nosec
-        await self.register_semaphore(  # pylint: disable=not-callable
+        result = await self.register_semaphore(  # pylint: disable=not-callable
             keys=[self.tokens_key, self.holders_set],
             args=[self.capacity, self.holders_set_ttl.total_seconds()],
             client=self.redis_client.redis,
         )
+        assert isinstance(result, list)  # nosec
+        exit_code, status = result
+        assert exit_code == SCRIPT_OK_EXIT_CODE  # nosec
+        _logger.debug("Semaphore '%s' init status: %s", self.key, status)
 
     async def _blocking_acquire(self) -> str | None:
         @retry(
diff --git a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/lua/register_semaphore_tokens.lua b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/lua/register_semaphore_tokens.lua
index c41c53ab9fc7..36b2c769ef25 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/lua/register_semaphore_tokens.lua
+++ b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/lua/register_semaphore_tokens.lua
@@ -14,16 +14,25 @@ local holders_key = KEYS[2]
 local capacity = tonumber(ARGV[1])
 local ttl_seconds = tonumber(ARGV[2])
 
--- Step 1: Initialize token pool if needed (first time setup)
-local tokens_exist = redis.call('EXISTS', tokens_key)
-local holders_exist = redis.call('EXISTS', holders_key)
-if tokens_exist == 0 and holders_exist == 0 then
+-- Use a persistent marker to track if semaphore was ever initialized
+local init_marker_key = tokens_key .. ':initialized'
+
+-- Check if we've ever initialized this semaphore
+local was_initialized = redis.call('EXISTS', init_marker_key)
+
+if was_initialized == 0 then
+    -- First time initialization - set the permanent marker
+    redis.call('SET', init_marker_key, '1')
+    redis.call('EXPIRE', init_marker_key, ttl_seconds)
+
     -- Initialize with capacity number of tokens
     for i = 1, capacity do
         redis.call('LPUSH', tokens_key, 'token_' .. i)
     end
-    -- Set expiry on tokens list to prevent infinite growth
+    -- Set expiry on tokens list
     redis.call('EXPIRE', tokens_key, ttl_seconds)
+    return {0, 'initialized'}
 end
 
-return 0
+
+return {0, 'already_initialized'}
diff --git a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/lua/renew_semaphore.lua b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/lua/renew_semaphore.lua
index ef229ef91b0b..35b290b29d92 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/lua/renew_semaphore.lua
+++ b/packages/service-library/src/servicelib/redis/lua/renew_semaphore.lua
@@ -41,5 +41,7 @@ redis.call('SETEX', holder_key, ttl_seconds, token)
 -- Step 4: Renew the holders set and tokens list TTLs to prevent infinite growth
 redis.call('EXPIRE', holders_key, holders_ttl_seconds)
 redis.call('EXPIRE', tokens_key, tokens_ttl_seconds)
+local init_marker_tokens_key = tokens_key .. ':initialized'
+redis.call('EXPIRE', init_marker_tokens_key, tokens_ttl_seconds)
 
 return {0, 'renewed', redis.call('SCARD', holders_key)}
diff --git a/packages/service-library/tests/redis/test_semaphore_decorator.py b/packages/service-library/tests/redis/test_semaphore_decorator.py
index 7a8164bb36da..fa004da96fe3 100644
--- a/packages/service-library/tests/redis/test_semaphore_decorator.py
+++ b/packages/service-library/tests/redis/test_semaphore_decorator.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ async def test_decorator_with_callable_parameters(
 ):
     executed_keys = []
 
-    def get_redis_client(*args, **kwargs):
+    def get_redis_client(*args, **kwargs) -> RedisClientSDK:
         return redis_client_sdk
 
     def get_key(user_id: str, resource: str) -> str:
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ async def test_decorator_capacity_enforcement(
         key=semaphore_name,
         capacity=2,
     )
-    async def limited_function():
+    async def limited_function() -> None:
         nonlocal concurrent_count, max_concurrent
         concurrent_count += 1
         max_concurrent = max(max_concurrent, concurrent_count)