diff --git a/src/rabbit_reader.erl b/src/rabbit_reader.erl
index 694abd9e49d4..045cc969afa6 100644
--- a/src/rabbit_reader.erl
+++ b/src/rabbit_reader.erl
@@ -329,10 +329,14 @@ handle_other({'$gen_call', From, {info, Items}}, Deb, State) ->
                            catch Error -> {error, Error}
                            end),
     mainloop(Deb, State);
-handle_other({'$gen_cast', force_event_refresh}, Deb, State) ->
+handle_other({'$gen_cast', force_event_refresh}, Deb, State)
+  when ?IS_RUNNING(State) ->
     rabbit_event:notify(connection_created,
                         [{type, network} | infos(?CREATION_EVENT_KEYS, State)]),
     mainloop(Deb, State);
+handle_other({'$gen_cast', force_event_refresh}, Deb, State) ->
+    %% Ignore, we will emit a created event once we start running.
+    mainloop(Deb, State);
 handle_other(emit_stats, Deb, State) ->
     mainloop(Deb, emit_stats(State));
 handle_other({system, From, Request}, Deb, State = #v1{parent = Parent}) ->