diff --git a/syndicate/distributed/federation.rkt b/syndicate/distributed/federation.rkt
index 1ed9c3f..e41aebb 100644
--- a/syndicate/distributed/federation.rkt
+++ b/syndicate/distributed/federation.rkt
@@ -322,7 +322,8 @@
              (on-start (log-syndicate/federation-debug "+PEER ~a link ~a" scope linkid)
                        (turns (hash-set (turns) linkid turn))
                        (for ([(spec localid) (in-hash (specs))])
-                         (extend-turn! turn (Assert localid (observe spec))))
+                         (when (not (hash-empty? (subscription-holders (hash-ref (subs) localid))))
+                           (extend-turn! turn (Assert localid (observe spec)))))
                        (commit-turn! turn))
 
              (on-stop (log-syndicate/federation-debug "-PEER ~a link ~a" scope linkid)