diff --git a/src/lib/InstantSearch.ts b/src/lib/InstantSearch.ts
index 7b34d6a5769..26bbba88bbf 100644
--- a/src/lib/InstantSearch.ts
+++ b/src/lib/InstantSearch.ts
@@ -425,7 +425,10 @@ See ${createDocumentationLink({
     // This Helper is used for the queries, we don't care about its state. The
     // states are managed at the `index` level. We use this Helper to create
     // DerivedHelper scoped into the `index` widgets.
-    const mainHelper = algoliasearchHelper(this.client, this.indexName);
+    // In Vue InstantSearch' hydrate, a main helper gets set before start, so
+    // we need to respect this helper as a way to keep all listeners correct.
+    const mainHelper =
+      this.mainHelper || algoliasearchHelper(this.client, this.indexName);
 
     mainHelper.search = () => {
       // This solution allows us to keep the exact same API for the users but
diff --git a/src/lib/__tests__/InstantSearch-test.tsx b/src/lib/__tests__/InstantSearch-test.tsx
index 2ae317b2693..649659036e1 100644
--- a/src/lib/__tests__/InstantSearch-test.tsx
+++ b/src/lib/__tests__/InstantSearch-test.tsx
@@ -850,6 +850,28 @@ describe('start', () => {
 See documentation: https://www.algolia.com/doc/api-reference/widgets/instantsearch/js/"
 `);
   });
+
+  it('keeps a mainHelper already set on the instance (Vue SSR)', () => {
+    const searchClient = createSearchClient();
+    const instance = new InstantSearch({
+      indexName: 'indexName',
+      searchClient,
+    });
+
+    const helper = algoliasearchHelper(searchClient, '');
+
+    // explicitly setting the mainHelper before start is used to force render to
+    // happen before the results of the first search are done. We need to make
+    // sure no extra helper is created, as that can cause certain things (like routing)
+    // to be listening to the wrong helper.
+    instance.mainHelper = helper;
+
+    expect(instance.mainHelper).toBe(helper);
+
+    instance.start();
+
+    expect(instance.mainHelper).toBe(helper);
+  });
 });
 
 describe('dispose', () => {