diff --git a/input/kafkamdm/kafkamdm.go b/input/kafkamdm/kafkamdm.go
index 797dd22216..4f6eaf1716 100644
--- a/input/kafkamdm/kafkamdm.go
+++ b/input/kafkamdm/kafkamdm.go
@@ -224,15 +224,19 @@ func (k *KafkaMdm) consumePartition(topic string, partition int32, currentOffset
 	partitionOffsetMetric := partitionOffset[partition]
 	partitionLogSizeMetric := partitionLogSize[partition]
 	partitionLagMetric := partitionLag[partition]
-
-	partitionOffsetMetric.Set(int(currentOffset))
-	// we need the currentLogSize to be able to record our inital Lag.
 	offset, err := k.client.GetOffset(topic, partition, sarama.OffsetNewest)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error(3, "kafka-mdm failed to get log-size of partition %s:%d. %s", topic, partition, err)
 	} else {
 		partitionLogSizeMetric.Set(int(offset))
-		partitionLagMetric.Set(int(offset - currentOffset))
+	}
+	if currentOffset >= 0 {
+		// we cant set the offsetMetrics until we know what offset we are at.
+		partitionOffsetMetric.Set(int(currentOffset))
+		// we need the currentLogSize to be able to record our inital Lag.
+		if err == nil {
+			partitionLagMetric.Set(int(offset - currentOffset))
+		}
 	}
 
 	log.Info("kafka-mdm: consuming from %s:%d from offset %d", topic, partition, currentOffset)
@@ -251,12 +255,18 @@ func (k *KafkaMdm) consumePartition(topic string, partition int32, currentOffset
 			if err := offsetMgr.Commit(topic, partition, currentOffset); err != nil {
 				log.Error(3, "kafka-mdm failed to commit offset for %s:%d, %s", topic, partition, err)
 			}
-			partitionOffsetMetric.Set(int(currentOffset))
 			offset, err := k.client.GetOffset(topic, partition, sarama.OffsetNewest)
 			if err != nil {
 				log.Error(3, "kafka-mdm failed to get log-size of partition %s:%d. %s", topic, partition, err)
 			} else {
 				partitionLogSizeMetric.Set(int(offset))
+			}
+			if currentOffset < 0 {
+				// we have not yet consumed any messages.
+				continue
+			}
+			partitionOffsetMetric.Set(int(currentOffset))
+			if err == nil {
 				partitionLagMetric.Set(int(offset - currentOffset))
 			}
 		case <-k.stopConsuming: