diff --git a/src/shrpx_client_handler.cc b/src/shrpx_client_handler.cc
index 66b88ffa..33b53c1b 100644
--- a/src/shrpx_client_handler.cc
+++ b/src/shrpx_client_handler.cc
@@ -1279,6 +1279,10 @@ ClientHandler::ReadBuf *ClientHandler::get_rb() { return &rb_; }
 void ClientHandler::signal_write() { conn_.wlimit.startw(); }
 
 void ClientHandler::signal_write_no_wait() {
+  // ev_feed_event works without starting watcher.  But rate limiter
+  // requires active watcher.  Without that, we might not send pending
+  // data.  Also ClientHandler::write_tls requires it.
+  conn_.wlimit.startw();
   ev_feed_event(conn_.loop, &conn_.wev, EV_WRITE);
 }