diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as
index c1888d7c2..bfe0e969b 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as
@@ -62,10 +62,9 @@ public class Communicator
         _outStream = new ObjectOutputStream(_outBuffer);
         _inStream = new ObjectInputStream();
 
-        // start up our message writer
+        // create our message writer
         _writer = new Timer(1);
         _writer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, sendPendingMessages);
-        _writer.start();
 
         _portIdx = 0;
         logonToPort();
@@ -276,9 +275,13 @@ public class Communicator
     protected function socketOpened (event :Event) :void
     {
         logonToPort(true);
+        
         // well that's great! let's logon
         postMessage(new AuthRequest(_client.getCredentials(), _client.getVersion(),
                                     _client.getBootGroups()));
+
+        // start up our writer thread now that we know we're ready to write
+        _writer.start();
     }
 
     /**