diff --git a/src/p2p_server.cpp b/src/p2p_server.cpp
index 0da6baa..b9a3b1d 100644
--- a/src/p2p_server.cpp
+++ b/src/p2p_server.cpp
@@ -1297,11 +1297,12 @@ void P2PServer::on_timer()
 		return;
 	}
 
-	++m_timerCounter;
+	const uint64_t t = ++m_timerCounter;
 
-	if (!m_initialPeerList.empty()) {
+	if ((t == 1) && !m_initialPeerList.empty()) {
 		connect_to_peers(m_initialPeerList);
 		m_initialPeerList.clear();
+		return;
 	}
 
 	flush_cache();