diff --git a/crates/obs/src/metrics/collectors/replication.rs b/crates/obs/src/metrics/collectors/replication.rs
index 15e1b7ae9..88b4b19a1 100644
--- a/crates/obs/src/metrics/collectors/replication.rs
+++ b/crates/obs/src/metrics/collectors/replication.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ pub struct ReplicationStats {
     pub max_queued_count: u64,
     /// Maximum data transfer rate seen since server start
     pub max_data_transfer_rate: f64,
-    /// Objects in replication backlog in the last 5 minutes
+    /// Objects currently in replication backlog
     pub recent_backlog_count: u64,
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/obs/src/metrics/schema/replication.rs b/crates/obs/src/metrics/schema/replication.rs
index b9ee5e4df..6b857aa5b 100644
--- a/crates/obs/src/metrics/schema/replication.rs
+++ b/crates/obs/src/metrics/schema/replication.rs
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ pub static REPLICATION_MAX_DATA_TRANSFER_RATE_MD: LazyLock<MetricDescriptor> = L
 pub static REPLICATION_RECENT_BACKLOG_COUNT_MD: LazyLock<MetricDescriptor> = LazyLock::new(|| {
     new_gauge_md(
         MetricName::ReplicationRecentBacklogCount,
-        "Total number of objects seen in replication backlog in the last 5 minutes",
+        "Total number of objects currently in replication backlog (failed plus queued)",
         &[],
         subsystems::REPLICATION,
     )
diff --git a/crates/obs/src/metrics/storage_api.rs b/crates/obs/src/metrics/storage_api.rs
index 040b34cee..a1fed693e 100644
--- a/crates/obs/src/metrics/storage_api.rs
+++ b/crates/obs/src/metrics/storage_api.rs
@@ -96,6 +96,12 @@ fn i32_to_u64_floor_zero(value: i32) -> u64 {
     u64::try_from(value.max(0)).unwrap_or(0)
 }
 
+fn replication_backlog_count(failed_counts: impl Iterator<Item = i64>, queued_count: i64) -> u64 {
+    let failed_backlog = failed_counts.map(i64_to_u64_floor_zero).sum::<u64>();
+
+    failed_backlog.saturating_add(i64_to_u64_floor_zero(queued_count))
+}
+
 pub(crate) async fn obs_bucket_replication_stats_snapshot() -> Vec<ObsBucketReplicationStatsSnapshot> {
     let Some(stats) = get_global_replication_stats() else {
         return Vec::new();
@@ -191,7 +197,13 @@ pub(crate) async fn obs_replication_site_stats_snapshot(current_data_transfer_ra
         .flat_map(|bucket| bucket.stats.values())
         .map(|stat| stat.xfer_rate_lrg.peak + stat.xfer_rate_sml.peak)
         .sum::<f64>();
-    let recent_backlog_count = stats.mrf_stats.values().copied().filter(|value| *value > 0).sum::<i64>();
+    let recent_backlog_count = replication_backlog_count(
+        all_bucket_stats
+            .values()
+            .flat_map(|bucket| bucket.stats.values())
+            .map(|stat| stat.failed.count),
+        site_metrics.queued.curr.count,
+    );
 
     ObsReplicationSiteStatsSnapshot {
         average_active_workers: site_metrics.active_workers.avg,
@@ -206,7 +218,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn obs_replication_site_stats_snapshot(current_data_transfer_ra
         max_queued_bytes: i64_to_u64_floor_zero(site_metrics.queued.max.bytes),
         max_queued_count: i64_to_u64_floor_zero(site_metrics.queued.max.count),
         max_data_transfer_rate,
-        recent_backlog_count: i64_to_u64_floor_zero(recent_backlog_count),
+        recent_backlog_count,
     }
 }
 
@@ -221,6 +233,16 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(i32_to_u64_floor_zero(-1), 0);
         assert_eq!(i32_to_u64_floor_zero(42), 42);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn replication_backlog_count_uses_failed_targets_and_current_queue() {
+        assert_eq!(replication_backlog_count([3, 5].into_iter(), 7), 15);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn replication_backlog_count_floors_negative_failed_and_queue_values() {
+        assert_eq!(replication_backlog_count([-3, 4].into_iter(), -2), 4);
+    }
 }
 
 pub(crate) mod metrics {