diff --git a/src/v/cluster/rm_stm.cc b/src/v/cluster/rm_stm.cc
index 7d3378e824fbf..41606814400ab 100644
--- a/src/v/cluster/rm_stm.cc
+++ b/src/v/cluster/rm_stm.cc
@@ -488,14 +488,26 @@ ss::future<checked<model::term_id, tx_errc>> rm_stm::do_begin_tx(
               txseq_it->second.tx_seq);
             co_return tx_errc::unknown_server_error;
         }
-        if (_log_state.ongoing_map.contains(pid)) {
-            vlog(
-              _ctx_log.warn,
-              "can't begin a tx {} with tx_seq {}: it was already begun and "
-              "accepted writes",
-              pid,
-              tx_seq);
-            co_return tx_errc::unknown_server_error;
+        auto it = _log_state.ongoing_map.find(pid);
+        if (it != _log_state.ongoing_map.end()) {
+            // there is already a transaction in progress.
+            // handle back to back duplicate begin_tx requests
+            // this can happen due to some undefined client behavior.
+            // note: this code is getting refactored soon with move to
+            // producer_state, temporary fix up to make chaos happy.
+            const auto& tx = it->second;
+            if (tx.last > tx.first) {
+                // the transaction already has a data batch and
+                // begin_tx at this point is unpexpected.
+                vlog(
+                  _ctx_log.warn,
+                  "can't begin a tx {} with tx_seq {}: it was already begun "
+                  "and "
+                  "accepted writes",
+                  pid,
+                  tx_seq);
+                co_return tx_errc::unknown_server_error;
+            }
         }
         co_return synced_term;
     }
@@ -1039,6 +1051,16 @@ ss::future<result<kafka_result>> rm_stm::do_transactional_replicate(
         vlog(_ctx_log.warn, "can't find ongoing tx for pid:{}", bid.pid);
         co_return errc::invalid_producer_epoch;
     }
+    auto it = _log_state.ongoing_map.find(bid.pid);
+    if (it == _log_state.ongoing_map.end()) {
+        // this is a bug and an incorrect state change as a begin is supposed to
+        // update this map and replicate request strictly happens after begin.
+        vlog(
+          _ctx_log.error,
+          "unable to find ongoing transaction for pid: {}",
+          bid.pid);
+        co_return errc::generic_tx_error;
+    }
     auto tx_seq = _log_state.current_txes[bid.pid].tx_seq;
     vlog(_ctx_log.trace, "found tx_seq:{} for pid:{}", tx_seq, bid.pid);
 
@@ -1046,7 +1068,11 @@ ss::future<result<kafka_result>> rm_stm::do_transactional_replicate(
     // an edge case where client reuses sequence number after an aborted
     // transaction see https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/pull/5026
     // for details
-    bool reset_sequence_tracking = !_log_state.ongoing_map.contains(bid.pid);
+    const auto& tx = it->second;
+    // Check if the incoming batch is the first data batch.
+    // note: this code is going away soon with move to producer state, will be
+    // refactored with better utilities soon.
+    bool reset_sequence_tracking = tx.first == tx.last;
     auto request = producer->try_emplace_request(
       bid, synced_term, reset_sequence_tracking);