diff --git a/.changelog/10907.txt b/.changelog/10907.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a709b2dc445a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/10907.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+```release-note:bug
+client: Fixed a bug where a restarted client may start an already completed tasks in rare conditions
+```
+
diff --git a/client/client.go b/client/client.go
index 6252e9500451..ee82f4da7e6d 100644
--- a/client/client.go
+++ b/client/client.go
@@ -1980,8 +1980,15 @@ func (c *Client) watchAllocations(updates chan *allocUpdates) {
 		NodeID:   c.NodeID(),
 		SecretID: c.secretNodeID(),
 		QueryOptions: structs.QueryOptions{
-			Region:     c.Region(),
-			AllowStale: true,
+			Region: c.Region(),
+
+			// Make a consistent read query when the client starts
+			// to avoid acting on stale data that predates this
+			// client state before a client restart.
+			//
+			// After the first request, only require monotonically
+			// increasing state.
+			AllowStale: false,
 		},
 	}
 	var resp structs.NodeClientAllocsResponse
@@ -2131,7 +2138,8 @@ OUTER:
 		c.logger.Debug("updated allocations", "index", resp.Index,
 			"total", len(resp.Allocs), "pulled", len(allocsResp.Allocs), "filtered", len(filtered))
 
-		// Update the query index.
+		// After the first request, only require monotonically increasing state.
+		req.AllowStale = true
 		if resp.Index > req.MinQueryIndex {
 			req.MinQueryIndex = resp.Index
 		}