diff --git a/pkg/services/policer/policer_test.go b/pkg/services/policer/policer_test.go
index 2ed71c404..ca6bff944 100644
--- a/pkg/services/policer/policer_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/policer/policer_test.go
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ func TestProcessObject(t *testing.T) {
 		maintenanceNodes    []int
 		wantRemoveRedundant bool
 		wantReplicateTo     []int
+		headResult          map[int]error
 		ecInfo              *objectcore.ECInfo
 	}{
 		{
@@ -145,6 +146,14 @@ func TestProcessObject(t *testing.T) {
 			objHolders:       []int{1},
 			maintenanceNodes: []int{2},
 		},
+		{
+			desc:       "preserve local copy when node response with MAINTENANCE",
+			nodeCount:  3,
+			policy:     `REP 2`,
+			placement:  [][]int{{1, 2}},
+			objHolders: []int{1},
+			headResult: map[int]error{2: new(apistatus.NodeUnderMaintenance)},
+		},
 		{
 			desc:            "lock object must be replicated to all EC nodes",
 			objType:         objectSDK.TypeLock,
@@ -204,6 +213,11 @@ func TestProcessObject(t *testing.T) {
 					t.Errorf("unexpected remote object head: node=%+v addr=%v", ni, a)
 					return nil, errors.New("unexpected object head")
 				}
+				if ti.headResult != nil {
+					if err, ok := ti.headResult[index]; ok {
+						return nil, err
+					}
+				}
 				for _, i := range ti.objHolders {
 					if index == i {
 						return nil, nil