diff --git a/pkg/internal/client/sender.go b/pkg/internal/client/sender.go
index 1c9ba4cb2d7c..d3947ff96ba3 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/client/sender.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/client/sender.go
@@ -170,6 +170,13 @@ type TxnSender interface {
 	// like the transaction that merges ranges together.
 	DisablePipelining() error
 
+	// EagerRecord instructs the transaction write its transaction record as soon as
+	// possible, instead of waiting for the transaction's first heartbeat or for the
+	// end of the transaction to write it.
+	//
+	// TODO(nvanbenschoten): Fix up flaky tests to allow us to get rid of this.
+	EagerRecord() error
+
 	// OrigTimestamp returns the transaction's starting timestamp.
 	// Note a transaction can be internally pushed forward in time before
 	// committing so this is not guaranteed to be the commit timestamp.
@@ -361,6 +368,9 @@ func (m *MockTransactionalSender) UpdateStateOnRemoteRetryableErr(
 // DisablePipelining is part of the client.TxnSender interface.
 func (m *MockTransactionalSender) DisablePipelining() error { return nil }
 
+// EagerRecord is part of the client.TxnSender interface.
+func (m *MockTransactionalSender) EagerRecord() error { return nil }
+
 // MockTxnSenderFactory is a TxnSenderFactory producing MockTxnSenders.
 type MockTxnSenderFactory struct {
 	senderFunc func(context.Context, *roachpb.Transaction, roachpb.BatchRequest) (
diff --git a/pkg/internal/client/txn.go b/pkg/internal/client/txn.go
index bc0e10d778af..2adff023b97a 100644
--- a/pkg/internal/client/txn.go
+++ b/pkg/internal/client/txn.go
@@ -292,6 +292,18 @@ func (txn *Txn) DisablePipelining() error {
 	return txn.mu.sender.DisablePipelining()
 }
 
+// EagerRecord instructs the transaction write its transaction record as soon as
+// possible, instead of waiting for the transaction's first heartbeat or for the
+// end of the transaction to write it.
+//
+// EagerRecord must be called before any operations are performed on the
+// transaction.
+func (txn *Txn) EagerRecord() error {
+	txn.mu.Lock()
+	defer txn.mu.Unlock()
+	return txn.mu.sender.EagerRecord()
+}
+
 // NewBatch creates and returns a new empty batch object for use with the Txn.
 func (txn *Txn) NewBatch() *Batch {
 	return &Batch{txn: txn}
diff --git a/pkg/kv/txn_coord_sender.go b/pkg/kv/txn_coord_sender.go
index cb5f8cc9e0b2..b1ad7d798ca9 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/txn_coord_sender.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/txn_coord_sender.go
@@ -544,6 +544,17 @@ func (tc *TxnCoordSender) DisablePipelining() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// EagerRecord is part of the client.TxnSender interface.
+func (tc *TxnCoordSender) EagerRecord() error {
+	tc.mu.Lock()
+	defer tc.mu.Unlock()
+	if tc.mu.active {
+		return errors.Errorf("cannot request an eager transaction record write on a running transaction")
+	}
+	tc.interceptorAlloc.txnHeartbeat.eagerRecord = true
+	return nil
+}
+
 // commitReadOnlyTxnLocked "commits" a read-only txn. It is equivalent, but
 // cheaper than, sending an EndTransactionRequest. A read-only txn doesn't have
 // a transaction record, so there's no need to send any request to the server.
diff --git a/pkg/kv/txn_interceptor_heartbeat.go b/pkg/kv/txn_interceptor_heartbeat.go
index 2b133cc3a1cb..d676dcc77e88 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/txn_interceptor_heartbeat.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/txn_interceptor_heartbeat.go
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ type txnHeartbeat struct {
 	// is to notify the TxnCoordSender to shut itself down.
 	asyncAbortCallbackLocked func(context.Context)
 
+	// When set to true, the transaction will always send a BeginTxn request to
+	// lay down a transaction record as early as possible.
+	eagerRecord bool
+
 	// mu contains state protected by the TxnCoordSender's mutex.
 	mu struct {
 		sync.Locker
@@ -178,7 +182,7 @@ func (h *txnHeartbeat) SendLocked(
 			ba.Txn.Key = anchor
 		}
 
-		if !h.st.Version.IsActive(cluster.VersionLazyTxnRecord) {
+		if h.eagerRecord || !h.st.Version.IsActive(cluster.VersionLazyTxnRecord) {
 			addedBeginTxn = true
 
 			// Set the key in the begin transaction request to the txn's anchor key.
diff --git a/pkg/storage/replica_command.go b/pkg/storage/replica_command.go
index 78d7e42f5157..d7b9c8619a5d 100644
--- a/pkg/storage/replica_command.go
+++ b/pkg/storage/replica_command.go
@@ -502,6 +502,14 @@ func (r *Replica) AdminMerge(
 		// TODO(benesch): expose a proper API for preventing the fast path.
 		_ = txn.CommitTimestamp()
 
+		// Multiple merge tests rely on a transaction record being written as
+		// early as possible in the lifecycle of a transaction. They aren't
+		// prepared for an untimely lease transfer to cause a restart.
+		// TODO(nvanbenschoten): Remove this once the tests are fixed.
+		if err := txn.EagerRecord(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
 		// Pipelining might send QueryIntent requests to the RHS after the RHS has
 		// noticed the merge and started blocking all traffic. This causes the merge
 		// transaction to deadlock. Just turn pipelining off; the structure of the