diff --git a/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/helper_http.py b/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/helper_http.py
index 62bc807fe..c10db9cbc 100644
--- a/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/helper_http.py
+++ b/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/helper_http.py
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@
 # See LICENSE file for licensing details.
 
 """File containing http related helpers."""
-from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional
+from typing import Any, Dict, Optional
 
-from charms.opensearch.v0.helper_networking import reachable_hosts
 from tenacity import RetryCallState
 
 # The unique Charmhub library identifier, never change it
@@ -31,20 +30,3 @@ def log_error(retry_state: RetryCallState):
         )
 
     return log_error
-
-
-def full_urls(
-    primary_host: str, port: int, path: str, alt_hosts: List[str], check_hosts_reach: bool = False
-) -> List[str]:
-    """Returns a list of well formatted and potentially reachable hosts."""
-    target_hosts = [primary_host]
-    if alt_hosts:
-        target_hosts.extend([alt_host for alt_host in alt_hosts if alt_host != primary_host])
-
-    if not check_hosts_reach:
-        return target_hosts
-
-    return [
-        f"https://{host_candidate}:{port}/{path}"
-        for host_candidate in reachable_hosts(target_hosts)
-    ]
diff --git a/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_distro.py b/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_distro.py
index b2f1607b9..483d2902a 100644
--- a/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_distro.py
+++ b/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_distro.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 from charms.opensearch.v0.constants_secrets import ADMIN_PW
 from charms.opensearch.v0.helper_cluster import Node
 from charms.opensearch.v0.helper_conf_setter import YamlConfigSetter
-from charms.opensearch.v0.helper_http import error_http_retry_log, full_urls
+from charms.opensearch.v0.helper_http import error_http_retry_log
 from charms.opensearch.v0.helper_networking import get_host_ip, is_reachable
 from charms.opensearch.v0.opensearch_exceptions import (
     OpenSearchCmdError,
@@ -153,13 +153,19 @@ def is_failed(self) -> bool:
         """Check if OpenSearch daemon has failed."""
         pass
 
-    def is_node_up(self) -> bool:
-        """Get status of current node. This assumes OpenSearch is Running."""
-        if not self.is_started():
+    def is_node_up(self, host: Optional[str] = None) -> bool:
+        """Get status of node. This assumes OpenSearch is Running.
+
+        Defaults to this unit
+        """
+        host = host or self.host
+        if not is_reachable(host, self.port):
             return False
 
         try:
-            resp_code = self.request("GET", "/_nodes", resp_status_code=True)
+            resp_code = self.request(
+                "GET", "/_nodes", host=host, check_hosts_reach=False, resp_status_code=True
+            )
             return resp_code < 400
         except (OpenSearchHttpError, Exception):
             return False
@@ -228,7 +234,7 @@ def call(url: str) -> requests.Response:
 
                     request_kwargs = {
                         "method": method.upper(),
-                        "url": urls[0],
+                        "url": url,
                         "verify": f"{self.paths.certs}/chain.pem",
                         "headers": {
                             "Accept": "application/json",
@@ -251,7 +257,11 @@ def call(url: str) -> requests.Response:
         if endpoint.startswith("/"):
             endpoint = endpoint[1:]
 
-        urls = full_urls(host or self.host, self.port, endpoint, alt_hosts, check_hosts_reach)
+        urls = []
+        for host_candidate in (host or self.host, *(alt_hosts or [])):
+            if check_hosts_reach and not self.is_node_up(host_candidate):
+                continue
+            urls.append(f"https://{host_candidate}:{self.port}/{endpoint}")
         if not urls:
             raise OpenSearchHttpError(
                 f"Host {host or self.host}:{self.port} and alternative_hosts: {alt_hosts or []} not reachable."
diff --git a/tests/integration/relations/test_opensearch_provider.py b/tests/integration/relations/test_opensearch_provider.py
index 722fab073..1baf7f0e3 100644
--- a/tests/integration/relations/test_opensearch_provider.py
+++ b/tests/integration/relations/test_opensearch_provider.py
@@ -393,6 +393,7 @@ async def test_admin_relation(ops_test: OpsTest):
         relation_id=admin_relation.id,
         relation_name=ADMIN_RELATION_NAME,
     )
+    logging.info(f"{run_bulk_read_index=}")
     results = json.loads(run_bulk_read_index["results"])
     logging.info(results)
     artists = [
diff --git a/tests/unit/lib/test_backups.py b/tests/unit/lib/test_backups.py
index 9c77b97cf..e5a6824a3 100644
--- a/tests/unit/lib/test_backups.py
+++ b/tests/unit/lib/test_backups.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 from ops.testing import Harness
 
 from charm import OpenSearchOperatorCharm
+from tests.helpers import patch_network_get
 
 TEST_BUCKET_NAME = "s3://bucket-test"
 TEST_BASE_PATH = "/test"
@@ -444,6 +445,7 @@ def test_on_s3_broken_steps(
         harness.charm.backup._execute_s3_broken_calls.assert_called_once()
 
 
+@patch_network_get("1.1.1.1")
 class TestBackups(unittest.TestCase):
     maxDiff = None