diff --git a/src/modules/discovery/discovery.c b/src/modules/discovery/discovery.c
index 787dea8..1b0170d 100644
--- a/src/modules/discovery/discovery.c
+++ b/src/modules/discovery/discovery.c
@@ -233,11 +233,13 @@ static void *receive_thread_fn(void *arg) {
 
 		pthread_mutex_unlock(&d->peers_mutex);
 
-		/* respond to every announcement — the sender may be a fresh instance
-		 * that doesn't know about us yet even if we already have it in our table */
-		pthread_mutex_lock(&d->announce_mutex);
-		pthread_cond_signal(&d->announce_cond);
-		pthread_mutex_unlock(&d->announce_mutex);
+		if (is_new) {
+			/* announce ourselves immediately so the new peer learns about us
+			 * without waiting up to interval_ms */
+			pthread_mutex_lock(&d->announce_mutex);
+			pthread_cond_signal(&d->announce_cond);
+			pthread_mutex_unlock(&d->announce_mutex);
+		}
 
 		if (is_new && d->config.on_peer_found) {
 			d->config.on_peer_found(&peer_copy, d->config.userdata);