diff --git a/crates/librqbit/src/torrent_state/live/mod.rs b/crates/librqbit/src/torrent_state/live/mod.rs
index 41083d6..4f7e5eb 100644
--- a/crates/librqbit/src/torrent_state/live/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/librqbit/src/torrent_state/live/mod.rs
@@ -1176,11 +1176,11 @@ impl PeerHandler {
                 self.tx.send(WriterRequest::Disconnect)?;
                 return Ok(());
             }
+        } else {
+            self.tx
+                .send(WriterRequest::Message(MessageOwned::Interested))?;
         }
 
-        self.tx
-            .send(WriterRequest::Message(MessageOwned::Interested))?;
-
         loop {
             self.wait_for_unchoke().await;