diff --git a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance.go b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance.go
index 97cc2cdce..6d965b7d4 100644
--- a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance.go
+++ b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance.go
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func (i Instance) IsWritable() (writable, known bool) {
 
 	// TODO(cbandy): Update this to consider when Patroni is paused.
 
-	return strings.HasPrefix(member[role:], `"role":"master"`), true
+	return strings.HasPrefix(member[role:], `"role":"primary"`), true
 }
 
 // PodMatchesPodTemplate returns whether or not the Pod for this instance
diff --git a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance_rollout_test.go b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance_rollout_test.go
index bede90861..2f1cda06f 100644
--- a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance_rollout_test.go
+++ b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance_rollout_test.go
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func TestReconcilerRolloutInstance(t *testing.T) {
 
 				// A switchover to any viable candidate.
 				assert.DeepEqual(t, command[:2], []string{"patronictl", "switchover"})
-				assert.Assert(t, sets.NewString(command...).Has("--master=the-pod"))
+				assert.Assert(t, sets.NewString(command...).Has("--primary=the-pod"))
 				assert.Assert(t, sets.NewString(command...).Has("--candidate="))
 
 				// Indicate success through stdout.
diff --git a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance_test.go b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance_test.go
index 064714872..28502c342 100644
--- a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance_test.go
+++ b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/instance_test.go
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func TestInstanceIsWritable(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Assert(t, !writable)
 
 	// Patroni leader
-	instance.Pods[0].Annotations["status"] = `{"role":"master"}`
+	instance.Pods[0].Annotations["status"] = `{"role":"primary"}`
 	writable, known = instance.IsWritable()
 	assert.Assert(t, known)
 	assert.Assert(t, writable)
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ func TestWritablePod(t *testing.T) {
 						Namespace: "namespace",
 						Name:      "pod",
 						Annotations: map[string]string{
-							"status": `{"role":"master"}`,
+							"status": `{"role":"primary"}`,
 						},
 						DeletionTimestamp: &metav1.Time{},
 					},
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ func TestWritablePod(t *testing.T) {
 						Namespace: "namespace",
 						Name:      "pod",
 						Annotations: map[string]string{
-							"status": `{"role":"master"}`,
+							"status": `{"role":"primary"}`,
 						},
 					},
 					Status: corev1.PodStatus{
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ func TestWritablePod(t *testing.T) {
 						Namespace: "namespace",
 						Name:      "pod",
 						Annotations: map[string]string{
-							"status": `{"role":"master"}`,
+							"status": `{"role":"primary"}`,
 						},
 					},
 					Status: corev1.PodStatus{
@@ -964,7 +964,7 @@ func TestPodsToKeep(t *testing.T) {
 		checks    func(*testing.T, []corev1.Pod)
 	}{
 		{
-			name: "RemoveSetWithMasterOnly",
+			name: "RemoveSetWithPrimaryOnly",
 			instances: []corev1.Pod{
 				{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
@@ -998,7 +998,7 @@ func TestPodsToKeep(t *testing.T) {
 				assert.Equal(t, len(p), 0)
 			},
 		}, {
-			name: "KeepMasterOnly",
+			name: "KeepPrimaryOnly",
 			instances: []corev1.Pod{
 				{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
@@ -1087,7 +1087,7 @@ func TestPodsToKeep(t *testing.T) {
 				assert.Equal(t, len(p), 0)
 			},
 		}, {
-			name: "MasterLastInSet",
+			name: "PrimaryLastInSet",
 			instances: []corev1.Pod{
 				{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
@@ -1116,7 +1116,7 @@ func TestPodsToKeep(t *testing.T) {
 				assert.Equal(t, p[0].Labels[naming.LabelRole], "master")
 			},
 		}, {
-			name: "ScaleDownSetWithMaster",
+			name: "ScaleDownSetWithPrimary",
 			instances: []corev1.Pod{
 				{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
@@ -1167,7 +1167,7 @@ func TestPodsToKeep(t *testing.T) {
 				assert.Equal(t, p[1].Labels[naming.LabelInstanceSet], "max")
 			},
 		}, {
-			name: "ScaleDownSetWithoutMaster",
+			name: "ScaleDownSetWithoutPrimary",
 			instances: []corev1.Pod{
 				{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
@@ -1220,7 +1220,7 @@ func TestPodsToKeep(t *testing.T) {
 				assert.Equal(t, p[2].Labels[naming.LabelRole], "replica")
 			},
 		}, {
-			name: "ScaleMasterSetToZero",
+			name: "ScalePrimarySetToZero",
 			instances: []corev1.Pod{
 				{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
@@ -1262,7 +1262,7 @@ func TestPodsToKeep(t *testing.T) {
 				assert.Equal(t, p[1].Labels[naming.LabelInstanceSet], "daisy")
 			},
 		}, {
-			name: "RemoveMasterInstanceSet",
+			name: "RemovePrimaryInstanceSet",
 			instances: []corev1.Pod{
 				{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
diff --git a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/patroni.go b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/patroni.go
index 1c5ac93ee..b942291de 100644
--- a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/patroni.go
+++ b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/patroni.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func (r *Reconciler) handlePatroniRestarts(
 			return r.PodExec(ctx, pod.Namespace, pod.Name, container, stdin, stdout, stderr, command...)
 		})
 
-		return errors.WithStack(exec.RestartPendingMembers(ctx, "master", naming.PatroniScope(cluster)))
+		return errors.WithStack(exec.RestartPendingMembers(ctx, "primary", naming.PatroniScope(cluster)))
 	}
 
 	// When the primary does not need to restart but a replica does, restart all
diff --git a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/pgbackrest_test.go b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/pgbackrest_test.go
index b7855f173..c63f13cb1 100644
--- a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/pgbackrest_test.go
+++ b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/pgbackrest_test.go
@@ -751,7 +751,7 @@ func TestReconcileStanzaCreate(t *testing.T) {
 
 	instances := newObservedInstances(postgresCluster, nil, []corev1.Pod{{
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
-			Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `"role":"master"`},
+			Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `"role":"primary"`},
 			Labels: map[string]string{
 				naming.LabelCluster:  postgresCluster.GetName(),
 				naming.LabelInstance: "",
@@ -867,7 +867,7 @@ func TestReconcileReplicaCreateBackup(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	instances := newObservedInstances(postgresCluster, nil, []corev1.Pod{{
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
-			Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `"role":"master"`},
+			Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `"role":"primary"`},
 			Labels: map[string]string{
 				naming.LabelCluster:  postgresCluster.GetName(),
 				naming.LabelInstance: "",
@@ -1348,7 +1348,7 @@ func TestReconcileManualBackup(t *testing.T) {
 					instances.forCluster[0].Pods[0].Annotations = map[string]string{}
 				} else {
 					instances.forCluster[0].Pods[0].Annotations = map[string]string{
-						"status": `"role":"master"`,
+						"status": `"role":"primary"`,
 					}
 				}
 
diff --git a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/pgmonitor_test.go b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/pgmonitor_test.go
index 8d8c8281d..e7baa689b 100644
--- a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/pgmonitor_test.go
+++ b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/pgmonitor_test.go
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ func TestReconcilePGMonitorExporterSetupErrors(t *testing.T) {
 				Pods: []*corev1.Pod{{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 						Name:              "daisy-pod",
-						Annotations:       map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"master"}`},
+						Annotations:       map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"primary"}`},
 						DeletionTimestamp: &metav1.Time{},
 					},
 				}},
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ func TestReconcilePGMonitorExporterSetupErrors(t *testing.T) {
 				Pods: []*corev1.Pod{{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 						Name:        "daisy-pod",
-						Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"master"}`},
+						Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"primary"}`},
 					},
 				}},
 				Runner: &appsv1.StatefulSet{},
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ func TestReconcilePGMonitorExporterSetupErrors(t *testing.T) {
 				Pods: []*corev1.Pod{{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 						Name:        "daisy-pod",
-						Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"master"}`},
+						Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"primary"}`},
 					},
 					Status: corev1.PodStatus{
 						ContainerStatuses: []corev1.ContainerStatus{{
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ func TestReconcilePGMonitorExporterSetupErrors(t *testing.T) {
 				Pods: []*corev1.Pod{{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 						Name:        "daisy-pod",
-						Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"master"}`},
+						Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"primary"}`},
 					},
 					Status: corev1.PodStatus{
 						ContainerStatuses: []corev1.ContainerStatus{{
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ func TestReconcilePGMonitorExporterSetupErrors(t *testing.T) {
 				Pods: []*corev1.Pod{{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 						Name:        "daisy-pod",
-						Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"master"}`},
+						Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"primary"}`},
 					},
 					Status: corev1.PodStatus{
 						ContainerStatuses: []corev1.ContainerStatus{{
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ func TestReconcilePGMonitorExporter(t *testing.T) {
 				Pods: []*corev1.Pod{{
 					ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 						Name:        "one-daisy-pod",
-						Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"master"}`},
+						Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"primary"}`},
 					},
 					Status: corev1.PodStatus{
 						Phase: corev1.PodRunning,
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ func TestReconcilePGMonitorExporterStatus(t *testing.T) {
 					Pods: []*corev1.Pod{{
 						ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 							Name:        "daisy-pod",
-							Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"master"}`},
+							Annotations: map[string]string{"status": `{"role":"primary"}`},
 						},
 						Status: corev1.PodStatus{
 							ContainerStatuses: []corev1.ContainerStatus{{
diff --git a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/postgres_test.go b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/postgres_test.go
index 901663b60..23dd424ee 100644
--- a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/postgres_test.go
+++ b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/postgres_test.go
@@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ func TestReconcileDatabaseInitSQL(t *testing.T) {
 					Namespace: ns.Name,
 					Name:      "pod",
 					Annotations: map[string]string{
-						"status": `{"role":"master"}`,
+						"status": `{"role":"primary"}`,
 					},
 				},
 				Status: corev1.PodStatus{
@@ -1072,7 +1072,7 @@ func TestReconcileDatabaseInitSQLConfigMap(t *testing.T) {
 					Namespace: ns.Name,
 					Name:      "pod",
 					Annotations: map[string]string{
-						"status": `{"role":"master"}`,
+						"status": `{"role":"primary"}`,
 					},
 				},
 				Status: corev1.PodStatus{
diff --git a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/watches.go b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/watches.go
index 41369254c..50db962c9 100644
--- a/internal/controller/postgrescluster/watches.go
+++ b/internal/controller/postgrescluster/watches.go
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func (*Reconciler) watchPods() handler.Funcs {
 			}
 
 			// Queue an event to start applying changes if the PostgreSQL instance
-			// now has the "master" role.
+			// now has the "primary" role.
 			if len(cluster) != 0 &&
 				!patroni.PodIsPrimary(e.ObjectOld) &&
 				patroni.PodIsPrimary(e.ObjectNew) {
diff --git a/internal/patroni/api.go b/internal/patroni/api.go
index 679da5f4a..8f1212b26 100644
--- a/internal/patroni/api.go
+++ b/internal/patroni/api.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func (exec Executor) ChangePrimaryAndWait(
 
 	err := exec(ctx, nil, &stdout, &stderr,
 		"patronictl", "switchover", "--scheduled=now", "--force",
-		"--master="+current, "--candidate="+next)
+		"--primary="+current, "--candidate="+next)
 
 	log := logging.FromContext(ctx)
 	log.V(1).Info("changed primary",
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func (exec Executor) ChangePrimaryAndWait(
 // "patronictl". It returns true when an election completes successfully. It
 // waits up to two "loop_wait" or until an error occurs. When Patroni is paused,
 // next cannot be blank. Similar to the "POST /switchover" REST endpoint.
-// The "patronictl switchover" variant does not require the current master to be passed
+// The "patronictl switchover" variant does not require the current primary to be passed
 // as a flag.
 func (exec Executor) SwitchoverAndWait(
 	ctx context.Context, target string,
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func (exec Executor) SwitchoverAndWait(
 // "patronictl". It returns true when an election completes successfully. It
 // waits up to two "loop_wait" or until an error occurs. When Patroni is paused,
 // next cannot be blank. Similar to the "POST /switchover" REST endpoint.
-// The "patronictl failover" variant does not require the current master to be passed
+// The "patronictl failover" variant does not require the current primary to be passed
 // as a flag.
 func (exec Executor) FailoverAndWait(
 	ctx context.Context, target string,
diff --git a/internal/patroni/api_test.go b/internal/patroni/api_test.go
index 4eb561ad2..7317cd382 100644
--- a/internal/patroni/api_test.go
+++ b/internal/patroni/api_test.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func TestExecutorChangePrimaryAndWait(t *testing.T) {
 		) error {
 			called = true
 			assert.DeepEqual(t, command, strings.Fields(
-				`patronictl switchover --scheduled=now --force --master=old --candidate=new`,
+				`patronictl switchover --scheduled=now --force --primary=old --candidate=new`,
 			))
 			assert.Assert(t, stdin == nil, "expected no stdin, got %T", stdin)
 			assert.Assert(t, stderr != nil, "should capture stderr")
diff --git a/internal/patroni/config.go b/internal/patroni/config.go
index f12d19b97..fee445858 100644
--- a/internal/patroni/config.go
+++ b/internal/patroni/config.go
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ func clusterYAML(
 			"role_label":    naming.LabelRole,
 			"scope_label":   naming.LabelPatroni,
 			"use_endpoints": true,
+			// To support transitioning to Patroni v4, set the value to 'master'.
+			// In a future release, this can be removed in favor of the default.
+			"leader_label_value": naming.RolePatroniLeader,
 
 			// In addition to "scope_label" above, Patroni will add the following to
 			// every object it creates. It will also use these as filters when doing
diff --git a/internal/patroni/config.md b/internal/patroni/config.md
index e061b3f77..54241d75b 100644
--- a/internal/patroni/config.md
+++ b/internal/patroni/config.md
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ TODO: document PostgreSQL parameters separately...
 | PATRONI_KUBERNETES_USE_ENDPOINTS      | kubernetes.use_endpoints      | No | immutable | cluster  | both | Elect and store state using Endpoints (instead of ConfigMap).
 | PATRONI_KUBERNETES_PORTS              | kubernetes.ports              | No | restart   | either   | both | When using Endpoints, port details need to match the leader Service.
 | PATRONI_KUBERNETES_LABELS             | kubernetes.labels             | No | immutable | cluster  | both | Used to find objects of the cluster. Patroni writes them on things it creates.
-| PATRONI_KUBERNETES_ROLE_LABEL         | kubernetes.role_label         | No | immutable | cluster  | both | Name of the label containing "master", "replica", etc.
+| PATRONI_KUBERNETES_ROLE_LABEL         | kubernetes.role_label         | No | immutable | cluster  | both | Name of the label containing "primary", "replica", etc.
 | PATRONI_KUBERNETES_SCOPE_LABEL        | kubernetes.scope_label        | No | immutable | cluster  | both | Name of the label containing cluster identifier.
 | PATRONI_KUBERNETES_NAMESPACE          | kubernetes.namespace          | No | immutable | cluster  | both |
 | PATRONI_KUBERNETES_POD_IP             | kubernetes.pod_ip             | No | immutable | instance | both |
diff --git a/internal/patroni/reconcile.go b/internal/patroni/reconcile.go
index 4fbb08b67..98aff5a9d 100644
--- a/internal/patroni/reconcile.go
+++ b/internal/patroni/reconcile.go
@@ -171,8 +171,7 @@ func instanceProbes(cluster *v1beta1.PostgresCluster, container *corev1.Containe
 }
 
 // PodIsPrimary returns whether or not pod is currently acting as the leader with
-// the "master" role. This role will be called "primary" in the future, see:
-// - https://github.com/zalando/patroni/blob/master/docs/releases.rst?plain=1#L213
+// the "primary" role.
 func PodIsPrimary(pod metav1.Object) bool {
 	if pod == nil {
 		return false
@@ -185,7 +184,7 @@ func PodIsPrimary(pod metav1.Object) bool {
 	// - https://github.com/zalando/patroni/blob/v3.1.1/patroni/ha.py#L782
 	// - https://github.com/zalando/patroni/blob/v3.1.1/patroni/ha.py#L1574
 	status := pod.GetAnnotations()["status"]
-	return strings.Contains(status, `"role":"master"`)
+	return strings.Contains(status, `"role":"primary"`)
 }
 
 // PodIsStandbyLeader returns whether or not pod is currently acting as a "standby_leader".
diff --git a/internal/patroni/reconcile_test.go b/internal/patroni/reconcile_test.go
index 5d2a2c0ad..5ce4a9f05 100644
--- a/internal/patroni/reconcile_test.go
+++ b/internal/patroni/reconcile_test.go
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ func TestPodIsPrimary(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Assert(t, !PodIsPrimary(pod))
 
 	// Primary
-	pod.Annotations["status"] = `{"role":"master"}`
+	pod.Annotations["status"] = `{"role":"primary"}`
 	assert.Assert(t, PodIsPrimary(pod))
 }
 
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ func TestPodIsStandbyLeader(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Assert(t, !PodIsStandbyLeader(pod))
 
 	// Leader
-	pod.Annotations["status"] = `{"role":"master"}`
+	pod.Annotations["status"] = `{"role":"primary"}`
 	assert.Assert(t, !PodIsStandbyLeader(pod))
 
 	// Replica