diff --git a/knoe/core/ops/cloudnative_pg.py b/knoe/core/ops/cloudnative_pg.py
index d55a9c0..45ea76a 100644
--- a/knoe/core/ops/cloudnative_pg.py
+++ b/knoe/core/ops/cloudnative_pg.py
@@ -1823,6 +1823,28 @@ def initialize(
     """
     _log(log, f"Initializing CNPG cluster '{cluster_name}' in namespace '{namespace}'...")
 
+    # Fast-path: if cluster already healthy and all pods Ready, skip the full pipeline.
+    # install_barman_plugin() fetches from GitHub (up to 6 × 120 s attempts) — pure waste
+    # when the cluster is already running. We check phase then pod readiness.
+    _phase_r = _kubectl(
+        ["-n", namespace, "get", "cluster", cluster_name, "-o", "jsonpath={.status.phase}"],
+        env=env, timeout=15,
+    )
+    if _phase_r.returncode == 0 and "healthy" in (_phase_r.stdout or "").lower():
+        _pods_r = _kubectl(
+            ["-n", namespace, "get", "pods", "--no-headers",
+             "-l", f"cnpg.io/cluster={cluster_name}"],
+            env=env, timeout=20,
+        )
+        _pod_lines = [ln for ln in (_pods_r.stdout or "").splitlines() if ln.strip()]
+        _not_ready = [
+            ln for ln in _pod_lines
+            if len(ln.split()) < 2 or not ln.split()[1].startswith("2/")
+        ]
+        if _pod_lines and not _not_ready:
+            _log(log, f"[CNPG] Cluster '{cluster_name}' already healthy with all pods Ready — skipping reinitialize")
+            return
+
     _log(log, "[CNPG] Ensuring operator is installed and healthy...")
     ensure_operator(
         env=env,
diff --git a/tests/test_deployment_mode_isolation.py b/tests/test_deployment_mode_isolation.py
index 495b167..412b615 100644
--- a/tests/test_deployment_mode_isolation.py
+++ b/tests/test_deployment_mode_isolation.py
@@ -125,6 +125,45 @@ def test_port_forward_argocd_excluded_when_disabled():
     assert "dashboard" not in ids, "dashboard must be excluded when dashboard_enabled=False"
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# 7f — CNPG initialize() fast-path: skip when cluster already healthy
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_cnpg_initialize_skips_when_cluster_healthy(monkeypatch):
+    """Regression: initialize() must return immediately when the cluster is healthy.
+
+    Formerly it always ran install_barman_plugin() which fetches from GitHub
+    (up to 6 × 120 s), stalling the installer even when CNPG was already running.
+    """
+    import types
+    from knoe.core.ops import cloudnative_pg as cnpg
+
+    calls: list[str] = []
+
+    def _fake_kubectl(args, env=None, timeout=None):
+        cmd = " ".join(str(a) for a in args)
+        calls.append(cmd)
+        result = types.SimpleNamespace(returncode=0, stdout="", stderr="")
+        if "jsonpath={.status.phase}" in cmd:
+            result.stdout = "Cluster in healthy state"
+        elif "get pods" in cmd:
+            result.stdout = "knoe-db-1  2/2  Running  0  5d\nknoe-db-2  2/2  Running  0  5d\n"
+        return result
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(cnpg, "_kubectl", _fake_kubectl)
+
+    logged: list[str] = []
+    cnpg.initialize("knoe-db", "knoe-db", log=lambda msg: logged.append(msg))
+
+    assert any("skipping reinitialize" in m for m in logged), (
+        "Expected fast-path log message not found"
+    )
+    # ensure_operator / install_barman_plugin / _apply_manifest must NOT be called
+    assert not any("apply" in c and "barman" in c.lower() for c in calls), (
+        "install_barman_plugin must not be called when cluster is already healthy"
+    )
+
+
 def test_port_forward_grafana_uses_monitoring_release():
     from knoe.core.env import _build_required_port_forwards