diff --git a/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/client/ConnectedPlayer.java b/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/client/ConnectedPlayer.java
index 22b88fbca..653325c5f 100644
--- a/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/client/ConnectedPlayer.java
+++ b/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/client/ConnectedPlayer.java
@@ -119,11 +119,6 @@ public class ConnectedPlayer implements MinecraftConnectionAssociation, Player {
   ConnectedPlayer(VelocityServer server, GameProfile profile, MinecraftConnection connection,
       @Nullable InetSocketAddress virtualHost, boolean onlineMode) {
     this.server = server;
-    if (connection.getProtocolVersion().compareTo(ProtocolVersion.MINECRAFT_1_8) >= 0) {
-      this.tabList = new VelocityTabList(this);
-    } else {
-      this.tabList = new VelocityTabListLegacy(this);
-    }
     this.profile = profile;
     this.connection = connection;
     this.virtualHost = virtualHost;
@@ -131,6 +126,12 @@ public class ConnectedPlayer implements MinecraftConnectionAssociation, Player {
     this.connectionPhase = connection.getType().getInitialClientPhase();
     this.knownChannels = CappedSet.create(MAX_PLUGIN_CHANNELS);
     this.onlineMode = onlineMode;
+
+    if (connection.getProtocolVersion().compareTo(ProtocolVersion.MINECRAFT_1_8) >= 0) {
+      this.tabList = new VelocityTabList(this);
+    } else {
+      this.tabList = new VelocityTabListLegacy(this);
+    }
   }
 
   @Override