diff --git a/nsqd/nsqd.go b/nsqd/nsqd.go
index 65218456a..95672f57a 100644
--- a/nsqd/nsqd.go
+++ b/nsqd/nsqd.go
@@ -358,9 +358,6 @@ func (n *NSQD) LoadMetadata() error {
 			continue
 		}
 		topic := n.GetTopic(t.Name)
-		if t.Paused {
-			topic.Pause()
-		}
 
 		for _, c := range t.Channels {
 			if !protocol.IsValidChannelName(c.Name) {
@@ -372,6 +369,12 @@ func (n *NSQD) LoadMetadata() error {
 				channel.Pause()
 			}
 		}
+
+		// this logic is reversed, and done _after_ channel creation to ensure that all channels
+		// are created before messages begin flowing
+		if !t.Paused {
+			topic.UnPause()
+		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -515,6 +518,13 @@ func (n *NSQD) GetTopic(topicName string) *Topic {
 	t = NewTopic(topicName, &context{n}, deleteCallback)
 	n.topicMap[topicName] = t
 
+	// if we're creating a new topic in this process while we're loading from metadata, the topic may already
+	// have message data persisted on disk. To ensure that all channels are created before message flow
+	// begins, we pause the topic.
+	if atomic.LoadInt32(&n.isLoading) == 1 {
+		t.Pause()
+	}
+
 	n.logf(LOG_INFO, "TOPIC(%s): created", t.name)
 
 	// release our global nsqd lock, and switch to a more granular topic lock while we init our