diff --git a/src/backend/distributed/commands/utility_hook.c b/src/backend/distributed/commands/utility_hook.c
index fba205cfc..b9c89715d 100644
--- a/src/backend/distributed/commands/utility_hook.c
+++ b/src/backend/distributed/commands/utility_hook.c
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ static int activeDropSchemaOrDBs = 0;
 static bool ConstraintDropped = false;
 
 
+ProcessUtility_hook_type PrevProcessUtility = NULL;
 int UtilityHookLevel = 0;
 
 
@@ -180,8 +181,8 @@ multi_ProcessUtility(PlannedStmt *pstmt,
 		 * that state. Since we never need to intercept transaction statements,
 		 * skip our checks and immediately fall into standard_ProcessUtility.
 		 */
-		standard_ProcessUtility_compat(pstmt, queryString, false, context,
-									   params, queryEnv, dest, completionTag);
+		PrevProcessUtility_compat(pstmt, queryString, false, context,
+								  params, queryEnv, dest, completionTag);
 
 		return;
 	}
@@ -199,8 +200,8 @@ multi_ProcessUtility(PlannedStmt *pstmt,
 		 * Ensure that utility commands do not behave any differently until CREATE
 		 * EXTENSION is invoked.
 		 */
-		standard_ProcessUtility_compat(pstmt, queryString, false, context,
-									   params, queryEnv, dest, completionTag);
+		PrevProcessUtility_compat(pstmt, queryString, false, context,
+								  params, queryEnv, dest, completionTag);
 
 		return;
 	}
@@ -231,8 +232,8 @@ multi_ProcessUtility(PlannedStmt *pstmt,
 
 		PG_TRY();
 		{
-			standard_ProcessUtility_compat(pstmt, queryString, false, context,
-										   params, queryEnv, dest, completionTag);
+			PrevProcessUtility_compat(pstmt, queryString, false, context,
+									  params, queryEnv, dest, completionTag);
 
 			StoredProcedureLevel -= 1;
 
@@ -265,8 +266,8 @@ multi_ProcessUtility(PlannedStmt *pstmt,
 
 		PG_TRY();
 		{
-			standard_ProcessUtility_compat(pstmt, queryString, false, context,
-										   params, queryEnv, dest, completionTag);
+			PrevProcessUtility_compat(pstmt, queryString, false, context,
+									  params, queryEnv, dest, completionTag);
 
 			DoBlockLevel -= 1;
 		}
@@ -591,8 +592,8 @@ ProcessUtilityInternal(PlannedStmt *pstmt,
 			citusCanBeUpdatedToAvailableVersion = !InstalledAndAvailableVersionsSame();
 		}
 
-		standard_ProcessUtility_compat(pstmt, queryString, false, context,
-									   params, queryEnv, dest, completionTag);
+		PrevProcessUtility_compat(pstmt, queryString, false, context,
+								  params, queryEnv, dest, completionTag);
 
 		/*
 		 * if we are running ALTER EXTENSION citus UPDATE (to "<version>") command, we may need
diff --git a/src/backend/distributed/shared_library_init.c b/src/backend/distributed/shared_library_init.c
index fddd1b49d..72967b3ca 100644
--- a/src/backend/distributed/shared_library_init.c
+++ b/src/backend/distributed/shared_library_init.c
@@ -334,9 +334,6 @@ _PG_init(void)
 	/* intercept planner */
 	planner_hook = distributed_planner;
 
-	/* register utility hook */
-	ProcessUtility_hook = multi_ProcessUtility;
-
 	/* register for planner hook */
 	set_rel_pathlist_hook = multi_relation_restriction_hook;
 	set_join_pathlist_hook = multi_join_restriction_hook;
@@ -387,6 +384,17 @@ _PG_init(void)
 	/* ensure columnar module is loaded at the right time */
 	load_file(COLUMNAR_MODULE_NAME, false);
 
+	/*
+	 * Register utility hook. This must be done after loading columnar, so
+	 * that the citus hook is called first, followed by the columnar hook,
+	 * followed by standard_ProcessUtility. That allows citus to distribute
+	 * ALTER TABLE commands before columnar strips out the columnar-specific
+	 * options.
+	 */
+	PrevProcessUtility = (ProcessUtility_hook != NULL) ?
+						 ProcessUtility_hook : standard_ProcessUtility;
+	ProcessUtility_hook = multi_ProcessUtility;
+
 	/*
 	 * Now, acquire symbols from columnar module. First, acquire
 	 * the address of the set options hook, and set it so that we
diff --git a/src/include/distributed/commands/utility_hook.h b/src/include/distributed/commands/utility_hook.h
index 246d413d9..a057c67b6 100644
--- a/src/include/distributed/commands/utility_hook.h
+++ b/src/include/distributed/commands/utility_hook.h
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ typedef struct DDLJob
 	List *taskList;            /* worker DDL tasks to execute */
 } DDLJob;
 
+extern ProcessUtility_hook_type PrevProcessUtility;
 
 extern void multi_ProcessUtility(PlannedStmt *pstmt, const char *queryString,
 #if PG_VERSION_NUM >= PG_VERSION_14
diff --git a/src/include/pg_version_compat.h b/src/include/pg_version_compat.h
index 2f076cf07..33cb524bd 100644
--- a/src/include/pg_version_compat.h
+++ b/src/include/pg_version_compat.h
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ RelationGetSmgr(Relation rel)
 	standard_ProcessUtility(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h)
 #define ProcessUtility_compat(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) \
 	ProcessUtility(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h)
+#define PrevProcessUtility_compat(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) \
+	PrevProcessUtility(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h)
 #define SetTuplestoreDestReceiverParams_compat(a, b, c, d, e, f) \
 	SetTuplestoreDestReceiverParams(a, b, c, d, e, f)
 #define pgproc_statusflags_compat(pgproc) ((pgproc)->statusFlags)
@@ -106,6 +108,8 @@ RelationGetSmgr(Relation rel)
 #define standard_ProcessUtility_compat(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) \
 	standard_ProcessUtility(a, b, d, e, f, g, h)
 #define ProcessUtility_compat(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) ProcessUtility(a, b, d, e, f, g, h)
+#define PrevProcessUtility_compat(a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h) \
+	PrevProcessUtility(a, b, d, e, f, g, h)
 #define COPY_FRONTEND COPY_NEW_FE
 #define SetTuplestoreDestReceiverParams_compat(a, b, c, d, e, f) \
 	SetTuplestoreDestReceiverParams(a, b, c, d)