diff --git a/tools/cabana/streams/livestream.cc b/tools/cabana/streams/livestream.cc
index 3edd2a7758..b2fc7ea4a6 100644
--- a/tools/cabana/streams/livestream.cc
+++ b/tools/cabana/streams/livestream.cc
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ LiveStream::LiveStream(QObject *parent, QString address) : zmq_address(address),
   stream_thread = new QThread(this);
   QObject::connect(stream_thread, &QThread::started, [=]() { streamThread(); });
   QObject::connect(stream_thread, &QThread::finished, stream_thread, &QThread::deleteLater);
-  stream_thread->start();
+  QTimer::singleShot(0, [this]() { stream_thread->start(); });
 }
 
 LiveStream::~LiveStream() {
@@ -45,9 +45,6 @@ void LiveStream::streamThread() {
 }
 
 void LiveStream::handleEvent(Event *evt) {
-  std::lock_guard lk(lock);
-  can_events.push_back(evt);
-
   current_ts = evt->mono_time;
   if (start_ts == 0 || current_ts < start_ts) {
     if (current_ts < start_ts) {
@@ -57,6 +54,8 @@ void LiveStream::handleEvent(Event *evt) {
     emit streamStarted();
   }
 
+  std::lock_guard lk(lock);
+  can_events.push_back(evt);
   if (!pause_) {
     if (speed_ < 1 && last_update_ts > 0) {
       auto it = std::upper_bound(can_events.begin(), can_events.end(), last_update_event_ts, [](uint64_t ts, auto &e) {