diff --git a/eureka-core/src/main/java/com/netflix/eureka/registry/PeerAwareInstanceRegistryImpl.java b/eureka-core/src/main/java/com/netflix/eureka/registry/PeerAwareInstanceRegistryImpl.java
index 44c94cc949..e1d6f27518 100644
--- a/eureka-core/src/main/java/com/netflix/eureka/registry/PeerAwareInstanceRegistryImpl.java
+++ b/eureka-core/src/main/java/com/netflix/eureka/registry/PeerAwareInstanceRegistryImpl.java
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ private void primeAwsReplicas(ApplicationInfoManager applicationInfoManager) {
     @Override
     public boolean shouldAllowAccess(boolean remoteRegionRequired) {
         if (this.peerInstancesTransferEmptyOnStartup) {
-            if (!(System.currentTimeMillis() > this.startupTime + serverConfig.getWaitTimeInMsWhenSyncEmpty())) {
+            if (this.startupTime == 0 || !(System.currentTimeMillis() > this.startupTime + serverConfig.getWaitTimeInMsWhenSyncEmpty())) {
                 return false;
             }
         }