diff --git a/pulsar-proxy/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/proxy/server/ProxyConnection.java b/pulsar-proxy/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/proxy/server/ProxyConnection.java
index 1278109aded1e..e27ab19ee4b00 100644
--- a/pulsar-proxy/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/proxy/server/ProxyConnection.java
+++ b/pulsar-proxy/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/proxy/server/ProxyConnection.java
@@ -447,12 +447,12 @@ private void doAuthentication(AuthData clientData)
             LOG.debug("[{}] Authentication in progress client by method {}.",
                     remoteAddress, authMethod);
         }
-        state = State.Connecting;
     }
 
     @Override
     protected void handleConnect(CommandConnect connect) {
         checkArgument(state == State.Init);
+        state = State.Connecting;
         this.setRemoteEndpointProtocolVersion(connect.getProtocolVersion());
         this.hasProxyToBrokerUrl = connect.hasProxyToBrokerUrl();
         this.protocolVersionToAdvertise = getProtocolVersionToAdvertise(connect);