diff --git a/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/backend/BackendPlaySessionHandler.java b/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/backend/BackendPlaySessionHandler.java
index 77ea3faff..8f231105f 100644
--- a/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/backend/BackendPlaySessionHandler.java
+++ b/proxy/src/main/java/com/velocitypowered/proxy/connection/backend/BackendPlaySessionHandler.java
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ public class BackendPlaySessionHandler implements MinecraftSessionHandler {
             if (status == MessageHandler.ForwardStatus.FORWARD) {
                 connection.getPlayer().getConnection().write(pm);
             }
-        } else {
+        } else if (connection.hasCompletedJoin()) {
             // Just forward the packet on. We don't have anything to handle at this time.
             connection.getPlayer().getConnection().write(packet);
         }