diff --git a/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/mod.rs b/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/mod.rs
index 02fdecdd9bb32..52852657870db 100644
--- a/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/mod.rs
+++ b/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/mod.rs
@@ -36,8 +36,9 @@ use polkadot_node_primitives::{
 };
 use polkadot_node_subsystem::{
 	messages::{
-		CandidateBackingMessage, HypotheticalCandidate, HypotheticalFrontierRequest,
-		NetworkBridgeEvent, NetworkBridgeTxMessage, ProspectiveParachainsMessage,
+		network_bridge_event::NewGossipTopology, CandidateBackingMessage, HypotheticalCandidate,
+		HypotheticalFrontierRequest, NetworkBridgeEvent, NetworkBridgeTxMessage,
+		ProspectiveParachainsMessage,
 	},
 	overseer, ActivatedLeaf,
 };
@@ -283,6 +284,10 @@ pub(crate) struct State {
 	candidates: Candidates,
 	per_relay_parent: HashMap<Hash, PerRelayParentState>,
 	per_session: HashMap<SessionIndex, PerSessionState>,
+	// Topology might be received before first leaf update, where we
+	// initialize the per_session_state, so cache it here until we
+	// are able to use it.
+	unused_topologies: HashMap<SessionIndex, NewGossipTopology>,
 	peers: HashMap<PeerId, PeerState>,
 	keystore: KeystorePtr,
 	authorities: HashMap<AuthorityDiscoveryId, PeerId>,
@@ -303,6 +308,7 @@ impl State {
 			authorities: HashMap::new(),
 			request_manager: RequestManager::new(),
 			response_manager: ResponseManager::new(),
+			unused_topologies: HashMap::new(),
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -449,12 +455,14 @@ pub(crate) async fn handle_network_update<Context>(
 			}
 		},
 		NetworkBridgeEvent::NewGossipTopology(topology) => {
-			let new_session_index = topology.session;
-			let new_topology = topology.topology;
-			let local_index = topology.local_index;
+			let new_session_index = &topology.session;
+			let new_topology = &topology.topology;
+			let local_index = &topology.local_index;
 
-			if let Some(per_session) = state.per_session.get_mut(&new_session_index) {
-				per_session.supply_topology(&new_topology, local_index);
+			if let Some(per_session) = state.per_session.get_mut(new_session_index) {
+				per_session.supply_topology(new_topology, *local_index);
+			} else {
+				state.unused_topologies.insert(*new_session_index, topology);
 			}
 
 			// TODO [https://github.com/paritytech/polkadot/issues/6194]
@@ -599,11 +607,12 @@ pub(crate) async fn handle_active_leaves_update<Context>(
 
 			let minimum_backing_votes =
 				request_min_backing_votes(new_relay_parent, session_index, ctx.sender()).await?;
-
-			state.per_session.insert(
-				session_index,
-				PerSessionState::new(session_info, &state.keystore, minimum_backing_votes),
-			);
+			let mut per_session_state =
+				PerSessionState::new(session_info, &state.keystore, minimum_backing_votes);
+			if let Some(toplogy) = state.unused_topologies.remove(&session_index) {
+				per_session_state.supply_topology(&toplogy.topology, toplogy.local_index);
+			}
+			state.per_session.insert(session_index, per_session_state);
 		}
 
 		let per_session = state
@@ -760,6 +769,7 @@ pub(crate) fn handle_deactivate_leaves(state: &mut State, leaves: &[Hash]) {
 	// clean up sessions based on everything remaining.
 	let sessions: HashSet<_> = state.per_relay_parent.values().map(|r| r.session).collect();
 	state.per_session.retain(|s, _| sessions.contains(s));
+	state.unused_topologies.retain(|s, _| sessions.contains(s));
 }
 
 #[overseer::contextbounds(StatementDistribution, prefix=self::overseer)]
diff --git a/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/tests/grid.rs b/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/tests/grid.rs
index 1ac9f4d45e714..38a12cf32e3b3 100644
--- a/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/tests/grid.rs
+++ b/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/tests/grid.rs
@@ -437,6 +437,7 @@ fn received_advertisement_after_backing_leads_to_acknowledgement() {
 			validator_count,
 			group_size,
 			&peers_to_connect,
+			false,
 		)
 		.await;
 		let [_, _, peer_c, peer_d, _] = peers[..] else { panic!() };
@@ -608,6 +609,7 @@ fn receive_ack_for_unconfirmed_candidate() {
 				validator_count,
 				group_size,
 				&peers_to_connect,
+				false,
 			)
 			.await;
 		let [_, _, peer_c, _] = peers[..] else { panic!() };
@@ -676,6 +678,7 @@ fn received_acknowledgements_for_locally_confirmed() {
 			validator_count,
 			group_size,
 			&peers_to_connect,
+			true,
 		)
 		.await;
 		let [peer_a, peer_b, peer_c, peer_d] = peers[..] else { panic!() };
@@ -837,6 +840,7 @@ fn received_acknowledgements_for_externally_confirmed() {
 			validator_count,
 			group_size,
 			&peers_to_connect,
+			false,
 		)
 		.await;
 		let [peer_a, _, peer_c, peer_d, _] = peers[..] else { panic!() };
diff --git a/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/tests/mod.rs b/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/tests/mod.rs
index bb780584febf1..82986a0330ec2 100644
--- a/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/polkadot/node/network/statement-distribution/src/v2/tests/mod.rs
@@ -437,6 +437,7 @@ async fn setup_test_and_connect_peers(
 	validator_count: usize,
 	group_size: usize,
 	peers_to_connect: &[TestPeerToConnect],
+	send_topology_before_leaf: bool,
 ) -> TestSetupInfo {
 	let local_validator = state.local.clone().unwrap();
 	let local_group = local_validator.group_index.unwrap();
@@ -481,10 +482,14 @@ async fn setup_test_and_connect_peers(
 		}
 	}
 
-	activate_leaf(overseer, &test_leaf, &state, true, vec![]).await;
-
-	// Send gossip topology.
-	send_new_topology(overseer, state.make_dummy_topology()).await;
+	// Send gossip topology and activate leaf.
+	if send_topology_before_leaf {
+		send_new_topology(overseer, state.make_dummy_topology()).await;
+		activate_leaf(overseer, &test_leaf, &state, true, vec![]).await;
+	} else {
+		activate_leaf(overseer, &test_leaf, &state, true, vec![]).await;
+		send_new_topology(overseer, state.make_dummy_topology()).await;
+	}
 
 	TestSetupInfo {
 		local_validator,