diff --git a/hapi-plugin-websocket.js b/hapi-plugin-websocket.js
index dc4a399..a181664 100644
--- a/hapi-plugin-websocket.js
+++ b/hapi-plugin-websocket.js
@@ -215,9 +215,10 @@ const register = async (server, pluginOptions) => {
             delete headers["accept-encoding"]
 
             /*  optionally inject an empty initial message  */
+            let initially;
             if (routeOptions.initially) {
                 /*  inject incoming WebSocket message as a simulated HTTP request  */
-                const response = await server.inject({
+                initially = server.inject({
                     /*  simulate the hard-coded POST request  */
                     method:        "POST",
 
@@ -233,25 +234,32 @@ const register = async (server, pluginOptions) => {
                     plugins: {
                         websocket: { mode: "websocket", ctx, wss, ws, wsf, req, peers, initially: true }
                     }
-                })
-
-                /*  any HTTP redirection, client error or server error response
-                    leads to an immediate WebSocket connection drop  */
-                if (response.statusCode >= 300) {
-                    const annotation = `(HAPI handler responded with HTTP status ${response.statusCode})`
-                    if (response.statusCode < 400)
-                        ws.close(1002, `Protocol Error ${annotation}`)
-                    else if (response.statusCode < 500)
-                        ws.close(1008, `Policy Violation ${annotation}`)
-                    else
-                        ws.close(1011, `Server Error ${annotation}`)
-                }
+                }).then(response => {
+                    /*  any HTTP redirection, client error or server error response
+                        leads to an immediate WebSocket connection drop  */
+                    if (response.statusCode < 300) {
+                        return true;
+                    } else {
+                        const annotation = `(HAPI handler responded with HTTP status ${response.statusCode})`
+                        if (response.statusCode < 400)
+                            ws.close(1002, `Protocol Error ${annotation}`)
+                        else if (response.statusCode < 500)
+                            ws.close(1008, `Policy Violation ${annotation}`)
+                        else
+                            ws.close(1011, `Server Error ${annotation}`)
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                });
             }
 
             /*  hook into WebSocket message retrieval  */
             if (routeOptions.frame === true) {
                 /*  framed WebSocket communication (correlated request/reply)  */
                 wsf.on("message", async (ev) => {
+                    if (initially && !(await initially)) {
+                        return;
+                    }
+
                     /*  allow application to hook into raw WebSocket frame processing  */
                     routeOptions.frameMessage.call(ctx, { ctx, wss, ws, wsf, req, peers }, ev.frame)
 
@@ -294,6 +302,10 @@ const register = async (server, pluginOptions) => {
             else {
                 /*  plain WebSocket communication (uncorrelated request/response)  */
                 ws.on("message", async (message) => {
+                    if (initially && !(await initially)) {
+                        return;
+                    }
+
                     /*  inject incoming WebSocket message as a simulated HTTP request  */
                     const response = await server.inject({
                         /*  simulate the hard-coded POST request  */
@@ -322,6 +334,7 @@ const register = async (server, pluginOptions) => {
             /*  hook into WebSocket disconnection  */
             ws.on("close", () => {
                 /*  allow application to hook into WebSocket disconnection  */
+                /*  note that this is done even if the `initially` handler closes the connection */
                 routeOptions.disconnect.call(ctx, { ctx, wss, ws, wsf, req, peers })
 
                 /*  stop tracking the peer  */
@@ -330,6 +343,7 @@ const register = async (server, pluginOptions) => {
             })
 
             /*  allow application to hook into WebSocket error processing  */
+            /*  note that this is done even if the `initially` handler closes the connection */
             ws.on("error", (error) => {
                 routeOptions.error.call(ctx, { ctx, wss, ws, wsf, req, peers }, error)
             })