diff --git a/lib/dispatcher/client-h2.js b/lib/dispatcher/client-h2.js
index 8155d6e226a..c824ea9becb 100644
--- a/lib/dispatcher/client-h2.js
+++ b/lib/dispatcher/client-h2.js
@@ -253,6 +253,7 @@ function writeH2 (client, request) {
 
   /** @type {import('node:http2').ClientHttp2Stream} */
   let stream
+  let isStreamResponseStarted = false
 
   const { hostname, port } = client[kUrl]
 
@@ -388,6 +389,7 @@ function writeH2 (client, request) {
   ++session[kOpenStreams]
 
   stream.once('response', headers => {
+    isStreamResponseStarted = true
     const { [HTTP2_HEADER_STATUS]: statusCode, ...realHeaders } = headers
     request.onResponseStarted()
 
@@ -419,7 +421,7 @@ function writeH2 (client, request) {
   })
 
   stream.on('data', (chunk) => {
-    if (request.onData(chunk) === false) {
+    if (!isStreamResponseStarted || request.onData(chunk) === false) {
       stream.pause()
     }
   })