# 3 Node Elasticsearch cluster is failing repeatedly with error: this node is unhealthy: health check failed due to broken node lock

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/3-node-elasticsearch-cluster-is-failing-repeatedly-with-error-this-node-is-unhealthy-health-check-failed-due-to-broken-node-lock/333234>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [May 11, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/3-node-elasticsearch-cluster-is-failing-repeatedly-with-error-this-node-is-unhealthy-health-check-failed-due-to-broken-node-lock/333234 "2023-05-11T17:42:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![DavidTurner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/davidturner/32/22453_2.png) [@DavidTurner](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/DavidTurner)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/3-node-elasticsearch-cluster-is-failing-repeatedly-with-error-this-node-is-unhealthy-health-check-failed-due-to-broken-node-lock/333234/2 "2023-05-11T17:47:10Z")

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That means that Elasticsearch saw a change in its data directory for which it was not responsible, so it stops all write activity to protect your data. To fix it, remove any other process that might make such a change and then restart Elasticsearch.

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_[View the full topic](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/3-node-elasticsearch-cluster-is-failing-repeatedly-with-error-this-node-is-unhealthy-health-check-failed-due-to-broken-node-lock/333234)._