diff --git a/tools/replay/replay.cc b/tools/replay/replay.cc
index 998c93b938..5c90777bbc 100644
--- a/tools/replay/replay.cc
+++ b/tools/replay/replay.cc
@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ Replay::Replay(QString route, QStringList allow, QStringList block, SubMaster *s
       s.push_back(it.name);
     }
   }
+
+  if (!allow_list.empty()) {
+    // the following events are needed for replay to work properly.
+    allow_list.insert(cereal::Event::Which::INIT_DATA);
+    allow_list.insert(cereal::Event::Which::CAR_PARAMS);
+  }
+
   qDebug() << "services " << s;
   qDebug() << "loading route " << route;