diff --git a/client/src/main/scala/org/http4s/netty/client/Http4sChannelPoolMap.scala b/client/src/main/scala/org/http4s/netty/client/Http4sChannelPoolMap.scala
index d1cf52a2..2ae2fbfc 100644
--- a/client/src/main/scala/org/http4s/netty/client/Http4sChannelPoolMap.scala
+++ b/client/src/main/scala/org/http4s/netty/client/Http4sChannelPoolMap.scala
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ private[client] class Http4sChannelPoolMap[F[_]](
     val key = Key(RequestKey.fromRequest(request), request.httpVersion)
 
     for {
-      channel <- connectAndConfigure(key)
       dispatcher <- Dispatcher.sequential[F](await = true)
+      channel <- connectAndConfigure(key)
       handler <- Resource.make {
         F.pure {
           val handler =