diff --git a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_exchange.erl b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_exchange.erl
index 56077ca8a850..ae704e7af034 100644
--- a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_exchange.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_db_exchange.erl
@@ -409,8 +409,12 @@ create_or_get_in_mnesia(#exchange{name = XName} = X) ->
       end).
 
 create_or_get_in_khepri(#exchange{name = XName} = X) ->
-    Path = khepri_exchange_path(XName),
-    case rabbit_khepri:create(Path, X) of
+    Path0 = khepri_exchange_path(XName),
+    Path1 = khepri_path:combine_with_conditions(
+              Path0, [#if_any{conditions =
+                              [#if_node_exists{exists = false},
+                               #if_has_payload{has_payload = false}]}]),
+    case rabbit_khepri:put(Path1, X) of
         ok ->
             {new, X};
         {error, {khepri, mismatching_node, #{node_props := #{data := ExistingX}}}} ->
diff --git a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_definitions.erl b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_definitions.erl
index 257f76232e10..573e4f577c88 100644
--- a/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_definitions.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbit/src/rabbit_definitions.erl
@@ -507,9 +507,9 @@ apply_defs(Map, ActingUser, SuccessFun) when is_function(SuccessFun) ->
         concurrent_for_all(vhosts,             ActingUser, Map, fun add_vhost/2),
         validate_limits(Map),
         concurrent_for_all(permissions,        ActingUser, Map, fun add_permission/2),
-        concurrent_for_all(topic_permissions,  ActingUser, Map, fun add_topic_permission/2),
 
         concurrent_for_all(exchanges,          ActingUser, Map, fun add_exchange/2),
+        concurrent_for_all(topic_permissions,  ActingUser, Map, fun add_topic_permission/2),
 
         sequential_for_all(global_parameters,  ActingUser, Map, fun add_global_parameter/2),
         %% importing policies concurrently can be unsafe as queues will be getting