An intelligent log gap detection to prevent unnecessary backup promotion. Specifically, the method and system disclosed herein entail determining whether to pursue a requested database backup type or to promote the requested database backup type to another database backup type, in order to preclude data loss across high availability databases. When a decision is made to pursue the requested database backup type, storage space, intended for backup consolidation on a backup system or media, is saved for future backup requests rather than being consumed as would be the case would the requested database backup type had been promoted.