diff --git a/sjrpc/core/protocols/tunnel.py b/sjrpc/core/protocols/tunnel.py
index 5ec98b13c08db59e32f1a2baeffa2e47ff18333a..6e62269a28a535a995514c7876615d088ebfba53 100644
--- a/sjrpc/core/protocols/tunnel.py
+++ b/sjrpc/core/protocols/tunnel.py
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ class TunnelProtocol(Protocol):
                      callback=self._handle_from_tunnel)
         self._endpoint_writer = self._connection.create_watcher(pyev.Io, **props)
 
-        # Ask some data to the peer:
-        self._send_get(TunnelProtocol.GET_SIZE)
+        self._connection.rpc.send_special('protoctl', label=self._label,
+                                          type='ready')
 
     def _handle_from_endpoint(self, watcher, revents):
         '''
@@ -96,3 +96,7 @@ class TunnelProtocol(Protocol):
             size = payload.get('size', TunnelProtocol.DEFAULT_GET_SIZE)
             self._ok_to_send += size
             self._endpoint_reader.start()
+        elif control_type == 'ready':
+            self._send_get(TunnelProtocol.GET_SIZE)
+            self._ok_to_send += TunnelProtocol.GET_SIZE
+            self._endpoint_reader.start()