diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_lrc.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_lrc.c
index 400b9b5a6882f9cacf25522a1c76e4fe92731fc4..28b477f531a53b9920c95db5d59ae2f46a766ab6 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_lrc.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/gt/intel_lrc.c
@@ -1886,7 +1886,8 @@ static void defer_request(struct i915_request *rq, struct list_head * const pl)
 				continue;
 
 			/* No waiter should start before its signaler */
-			GEM_BUG_ON(i915_request_started(w) &&
+			GEM_BUG_ON(w->context->timeline->has_initial_breadcrumb &&
+				   i915_request_started(w) &&
 				   !i915_request_completed(rq));
 
 			GEM_BUG_ON(i915_request_is_active(w));