diff --git a/src/net.h b/src/net.h
index 5a03011eaf..1c839aacd1 100644
--- a/src/net.h
+++ b/src/net.h
@@ -752,8 +752,8 @@ public:
     /** Mutex for anything that is only accessed via the msg processing thread */
     static Mutex g_msgproc_mutex;
 
-    /** Initialize a peer (setup state, queue any initial messages) */
-    virtual void InitializeNode(CNode& node, ServiceFlags our_services) = 0;
+    /** Initialize a peer (setup state) */
+    virtual void InitializeNode(const CNode& node, ServiceFlags our_services) = 0;
 
     /** Handle removal of a peer (clear state) */
     virtual void FinalizeNode(const CNode& node) = 0;
diff --git a/src/net_processing.cpp b/src/net_processing.cpp
index 9767a8098e..8853e0a098 100644
--- a/src/net_processing.cpp
+++ b/src/net_processing.cpp
@@ -241,6 +241,9 @@ struct Peer {
      * Most peers use headers-first syncing, which doesn't use this mechanism */
     uint256 m_continuation_block GUARDED_BY(m_block_inv_mutex) {};
 
+    /** Set to true once initial VERSION message was sent (only relevant for outbound peers). */
+    bool m_outbound_version_message_sent GUARDED_BY(NetEventsInterface::g_msgproc_mutex){false};
+
     /** This peer's reported block height when we connected */
     std::atomic<int> m_starting_height{-1};
 
@@ -495,7 +498,7 @@ public:
         EXCLUSIVE_LOCKS_REQUIRED(!m_most_recent_block_mutex);
 
     /** Implement NetEventsInterface */
-    void InitializeNode(CNode& node, ServiceFlags our_services) override EXCLUSIVE_LOCKS_REQUIRED(!m_peer_mutex);
+    void InitializeNode(const CNode& node, ServiceFlags our_services) override EXCLUSIVE_LOCKS_REQUIRED(!m_peer_mutex);
     void FinalizeNode(const CNode& node) override EXCLUSIVE_LOCKS_REQUIRED(!m_peer_mutex, !m_headers_presync_mutex);
     bool ProcessMessages(CNode* pfrom, std::atomic<bool>& interrupt) override
         EXCLUSIVE_LOCKS_REQUIRED(!m_peer_mutex, !m_recent_confirmed_transactions_mutex, !m_most_recent_block_mutex, !m_headers_presync_mutex, g_msgproc_mutex);
@@ -1464,7 +1467,7 @@ void PeerManagerImpl::UpdateLastBlockAnnounceTime(NodeId node, int64_t time_in_s
     if (state) state->m_last_block_announcement = time_in_seconds;
 }
 
-void PeerManagerImpl::InitializeNode(CNode& node, ServiceFlags our_services)
+void PeerManagerImpl::InitializeNode(const CNode& node, ServiceFlags our_services)
 {
     NodeId nodeid = node.GetId();
     {
@@ -1477,9 +1480,6 @@ void PeerManagerImpl::InitializeNode(CNode& node, ServiceFlags our_services)
         LOCK(m_peer_mutex);
         m_peer_map.emplace_hint(m_peer_map.end(), nodeid, peer);
     }
-    if (!node.IsInboundConn()) {
-        PushNodeVersion(node, *peer);
-    }
 }
 
 void PeerManagerImpl::ReattemptInitialBroadcast(CScheduler& scheduler)
@@ -4999,6 +4999,10 @@ bool PeerManagerImpl::ProcessMessages(CNode* pfrom, std::atomic<bool>& interrupt
     PeerRef peer = GetPeerRef(pfrom->GetId());
     if (peer == nullptr) return false;
 
+    // For outbound connections, ensure that the initial VERSION message
+    // has been sent first before processing any incoming messages
+    if (!pfrom->IsInboundConn() && !peer->m_outbound_version_message_sent) return false;
+
     {
         LOCK(peer->m_getdata_requests_mutex);
         if (!peer->m_getdata_requests.empty()) {
@@ -5497,6 +5501,12 @@ bool PeerManagerImpl::SendMessages(CNode* pto)
     // disconnect misbehaving peers even before the version handshake is complete.
     if (MaybeDiscourageAndDisconnect(*pto, *peer)) return true;
 
+    // Initiate version handshake for outbound connections
+    if (!pto->IsInboundConn() && !peer->m_outbound_version_message_sent) {
+        PushNodeVersion(*pto, *peer);
+        peer->m_outbound_version_message_sent = true;
+    }
+
     // Don't send anything until the version handshake is complete
     if (!pto->fSuccessfullyConnected || pto->fDisconnect)
         return true;
diff --git a/src/test/util/net.cpp b/src/test/util/net.cpp
index 8015db3e80..ab1f082ed4 100644
--- a/src/test/util/net.cpp
+++ b/src/test/util/net.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ void ConnmanTestMsg::Handshake(CNode& node,
     const CNetMsgMaker mm{0};
 
     peerman.InitializeNode(node, local_services);
-    FlushSendBuffer(node); // Drop the version message added by InitializeNode.
+    peerman.SendMessages(&node);
+    FlushSendBuffer(node); // Drop the version message added by SendMessages.
 
     CSerializedNetMsg msg_version{
         mm.Make(NetMsgType::VERSION,