diff --git a/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs b/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
index 23b124b01..db4a1802e 100644
--- a/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/backend/mod.rs
@@ -1541,13 +1541,19 @@ impl Backend {
 
         // fetch and cache result
         let rt = self.runtime_handle();
+        let time_at_check_begin = TimestampSecs::now();
         let remote: SyncMeta = rt.block_on(get_remote_sync_meta(input.into()))?;
         let response = self.with_col(|col| col.get_sync_status(remote).map(Into::into))?;
 
         {
             let mut guard = self.state.lock().unwrap();
-            guard.remote_sync_status.last_check = TimestampSecs::now();
-            guard.remote_sync_status.last_response = response;
+            // On startup, the sync status check will block on network access, and then automatic syncing begins,
+            // taking hold of the mutex. By the time we reach here, our network status may be out of date,
+            // so we discard it if stale.
+            if guard.remote_sync_status.last_check < time_at_check_begin {
+                guard.remote_sync_status.last_check = time_at_check_begin;
+                guard.remote_sync_status.last_response = response;
+            }
         }
 
         Ok(response.into())