diff --git a/agent/consul/stream/event_buffer_test.go b/agent/consul/stream/event_buffer_test.go
index c9f737a7c..afc9728b6 100644
--- a/agent/consul/stream/event_buffer_test.go
+++ b/agent/consul/stream/event_buffer_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ func TestEventBufferFuzz(t *testing.T) {
 
 	b := newEventBuffer()
 
+	// Load head here so all subscribers start from the same point or they might
+	// not run until several appends have already happened.
+	head := b.Head()
+
 	// Start a write goroutine that will publish 10000 messages with sequential
 	// indexes and some jitter in timing (to allow clients to "catch up" and block
 	// waiting for updates).
@@ -50,10 +54,6 @@ func TestEventBufferFuzz(t *testing.T) {
 	// Run n subscribers following and verifying
 	errCh := make(chan error, nReaders)
 
-	// Load head here so all subscribers start from the same point or they might
-	// not run until several appends have already happened.
-	head := b.Head()
-
 	for i := 0; i < nReaders; i++ {
 		go func(i int) {
 			expect := uint64(0)