diff --git a/src/backend/postmaster/autovacuum.c b/src/backend/postmaster/autovacuum.c
index 9a925a10cd..928754b51c 100644
--- a/src/backend/postmaster/autovacuum.c
+++ b/src/backend/postmaster/autovacuum.c
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ AutoVacLauncherMain(char *startup_data, size_t startup_data_len)
 	if (PostAuthDelay)
 		pg_usleep(PostAuthDelay * 1000000L);
 
-	SetProcessingMode(InitProcessing);
+	Assert(GetProcessingMode() == InitProcessing);
 
 	/*
 	 * Set up signal handlers.  We operate on databases much like a regular
@@ -1373,7 +1373,7 @@ AutoVacWorkerMain(char *startup_data, size_t startup_data_len)
 	MyBackendType = B_AUTOVAC_WORKER;
 	init_ps_display(NULL);
 
-	SetProcessingMode(InitProcessing);
+	Assert(GetProcessingMode() == InitProcessing);
 
 	/*
 	 * Set up signal handlers.  We operate on databases much like a regular
diff --git a/src/backend/postmaster/auxprocess.c b/src/backend/postmaster/auxprocess.c
index 78f4263eeb..b21eae7136 100644
--- a/src/backend/postmaster/auxprocess.c
+++ b/src/backend/postmaster/auxprocess.c
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ AuxiliaryProcessMainCommon(void)
 
 	init_ps_display(NULL);
 
-	SetProcessingMode(BootstrapProcessing);
+	Assert(GetProcessingMode() == InitProcessing);
+
 	IgnoreSystemIndexes = true;
 
 	/*
diff --git a/src/backend/postmaster/bgworker.c b/src/backend/postmaster/bgworker.c
index 13dc2cf064..77707bb384 100644
--- a/src/backend/postmaster/bgworker.c
+++ b/src/backend/postmaster/bgworker.c
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ BackgroundWorkerMain(char *startup_data, size_t startup_data_len)
 	MyBackendType = B_BG_WORKER;
 	init_ps_display(worker->bgw_name);
 
-	SetProcessingMode(InitProcessing);
+	Assert(GetProcessingMode() == InitProcessing);
 
 	/* Apply PostAuthDelay */
 	if (PostAuthDelay > 0)
diff --git a/src/backend/replication/logical/slotsync.c b/src/backend/replication/logical/slotsync.c
index e7738f2ea6..fe2f07cf44 100644
--- a/src/backend/replication/logical/slotsync.c
+++ b/src/backend/replication/logical/slotsync.c
@@ -1342,7 +1342,7 @@ ReplSlotSyncWorkerMain(char *startup_data, size_t startup_data_len)
 
 	init_ps_display(NULL);
 
-	SetProcessingMode(InitProcessing);
+	Assert(GetProcessingMode() == InitProcessing);
 
 	/*
 	 * Create a per-backend PGPROC struct in shared memory.  We must do this
diff --git a/src/backend/tcop/postgres.c b/src/backend/tcop/postgres.c
index adf71c6902..e39c6804a7 100644
--- a/src/backend/tcop/postgres.c
+++ b/src/backend/tcop/postgres.c
@@ -4161,7 +4161,7 @@ PostgresMain(const char *dbname, const char *username)
 	Assert(dbname != NULL);
 	Assert(username != NULL);
 
-	SetProcessingMode(InitProcessing);
+	Assert(GetProcessingMode() == InitProcessing);
 
 	/*
 	 * Set up signal handlers.  (InitPostmasterChild or InitStandaloneProcess