diff --git a/repos/os/src/init/server.cc b/repos/os/src/init/server.cc
index 7a321a326f..5a112e4375 100644
--- a/repos/os/src/init/server.cc
+++ b/repos/os/src/init/server.cc
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ Init::Server::_resolve_session_request(Service::Name const &service_name,
 			matching_service = &service; });
 
 	if (!matching_service)
-		throw Service_denied();
+		throw Service_not_present();
 
 	return matching_service->resolve_session_request(label);
 }
@@ -169,6 +169,16 @@ void Init::Server::session_closed(Session_state &session)
 void Init::Server::_handle_create_session_request(Xml_node request,
                                                   Parent::Client::Id id)
 {
+	/*
+	 * Ignore requests that are already successfully forwarded (by a prior call
+	 * of '_handle_create_session_request') but still remain present in the
+	 *  'session_requests' ROM because the server child has not responded yet.
+	 */
+	try {
+		_client_id_space.apply<Parent::Client>(id, [&] (Parent::Client const &) { });
+		return;
+	} catch (Id_space<Parent::Client>::Unknown_id) { /* normal case */ }
+
 	if (!request.has_sub_node("args"))
 		return;
 
@@ -257,6 +267,7 @@ void Init::Server::_handle_create_session_request(Xml_node request,
 	catch (Insufficient_cap_quota) {
 		_env.parent().session_response(Parent::Server::Id { id.value },
 		                               Parent::INSUFFICIENT_CAP_QUOTA); }
+	catch (Service_not_present) { /* keep request pending */ }
 }
 
 
@@ -356,11 +367,15 @@ void Init::Server::apply_config(Xml_node config)
 		_session_request_handler.construct(_env.ep(), *this,
 		                                   &Server::_handle_session_requests);
 		_session_requests->sigh(*_session_request_handler);
-
-		if (_session_requests.constructed())
-			_handle_session_requests();
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Try to resolve pending session requests that may become serviceable with
+	 * the new configuration.
+	 */
+	if (services_provided && _session_requests.constructed())
+		_handle_session_requests();
+
 	/*
 	 * Re-validate routes of existing sessions, close sessions whose routes
 	 * changed.
@@ -375,6 +390,7 @@ void Init::Server::apply_config(Xml_node config)
 			if (!route_unchanged)
 				throw Service_denied();
 		}
-		catch (Service_denied) { close_session(session); }
+		catch (Service_denied)      { close_session(session); }
+		catch (Service_not_present) { close_session(session); }
 	});
 }
diff --git a/repos/os/src/init/server.h b/repos/os/src/init/server.h
index ef908bdc57..93b079380a 100644
--- a/repos/os/src/init/server.h
+++ b/repos/os/src/init/server.h
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ class Init::Server : Session_state::Ready_callback,
 		 */
 		Id_space<Parent::Client> _client_id_space;
 
+		/**
+		 * Exception type
+		 */
+		class Service_not_present : Exception { };
+
 		/**
 		 * Meta data of service provided to our parent
 		 */