diff --git a/degesch.c b/degesch.c
index 8b0269b..563da0f 100644
--- a/degesch.c
+++ b/degesch.c
@@ -6570,7 +6570,9 @@ irc_process_cap_ls (struct server *s)
 	// XXX: with IRCv3.2, this may end up being too long for one message,
 	// and we need to be careful with CAP END.  One probably has to count
 	// the number of sent CAP REQ vs the number of received CAP ACK/NAK.
-	irc_send (s, "CAP REQ :%s", chosen_str);
+	if (s->state == IRC_CONNECTED)
+		irc_send (s, "CAP REQ :%s", chosen_str);
+
 	free (chosen_str);
 }