diff --git a/src/__tests__/generic.test.ts b/src/__tests__/generic.test.ts
index 51a5b8a..2ac0339 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/generic.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/generic.test.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,37 @@ describe("generic interface", () => {
     vi.useRealTimers();
   });
 
+  it("should subscribe before making a new stream resumable", async () => {
+    const { publisher, subscriber } = createInMemoryPubSubForTesting();
+    const operations: string[] = [];
+    const ctx = createResumableStreamContext({
+      waitUntil: null,
+      publisher: {
+        ...publisher,
+        set: async (key, value, options) => {
+          operations.push("set");
+          return publisher.set(key, value, options);
+        },
+      },
+      subscriber: {
+        ...subscriber,
+        subscribe: async (channel, callback) => {
+          const result = await subscriber.subscribe(channel, callback);
+          operations.push("subscribe");
+          return result;
+        },
+      },
+      keyPrefix: "test-subscribe-before-sentinel",
+    });
+    const { readable, writer } = createTestingStream();
+
+    const stream = await ctx.createNewResumableStream("test-stream", () => readable);
+
+    expect(operations).toEqual(["subscribe", "set"]);
+    writer.close();
+    await streamToBuffer(stream);
+  });
+
   it("should work with custom publisher/subscriber implementations", async () => {
     const { publisher, subscriber } = createInMemoryPubSubForTesting();
 
diff --git a/src/runtime.ts b/src/runtime.ts
index b366d92..e0dfeb6 100644
--- a/src/runtime.ts
+++ b/src/runtime.ts
@@ -61,13 +61,8 @@ export function createResumableStreamContextFactory(defaults: _Private.RedisDefa
         makeStream: () => ReadableStream<string>,
         skipCharacters?: number
       ): Promise<ReadableStream<string> | null> => {
-        const initPromise = Promise.all(initPromises);
-        await initPromise;
-        await ctx.publisher.set(`${ctx.keyPrefix}:sentinel:${streamId}`, "1", {
-          EX: 24 * 60 * 60,
-        });
         return createNewResumableStream(
-          initPromise,
+          Promise.all(initPromises),
           ctx as CreateResumableStreamContext,
           streamId,
           makeStream
@@ -144,8 +139,9 @@ async function createNewResumableStream(
     })
   );
   let isDone = false;
-  // This is ultimately racy if two requests for the same ID come at the same time.
-  // But this library is for the case where that would not happen.
+  // Subscribe to request channel BEFORE setting sentinel to avoid race condition.
+  // If we set sentinel first, a consumer might detect it and send a request
+  // before we've subscribed, causing the message to be lost.
   await ctx.subscriber.subscribe(
     `${ctx.keyPrefix}:request:${streamId}`,
     async (message: string) => {
@@ -168,6 +164,11 @@ async function createNewResumableStream(
     }
   );
 
+  // Set sentinel AFTER subscribing to ensure we're ready to receive requests
+  await ctx.publisher.set(`${ctx.keyPrefix}:sentinel:${streamId}`, "1", {
+    EX: 24 * 60 * 60,
+  });
+
   return new ReadableStream<string>({
     start(controller) {
       const stream = makeStream();