diff --git a/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerMessageListener.go b/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerMessageListener.go
index 2c8b5301..0d7f5a2b 100644
--- a/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerMessageListener.go
+++ b/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerMessageListener.go
@@ -114,7 +114,14 @@ func createSession(ctx context.Context, logger *logr.Logger, client actions.Acti
 		return runnerScaleSetSession, initialMessage, nil
 	}
 
-	return runnerScaleSetSession, nil, nil
+	initialMessage := &actions.RunnerScaleSetMessage{
+		MessageId:   0,
+		MessageType: "RunnerScaleSetJobMessages",
+		Statistics:  runnerScaleSetSession.Statistics,
+		Body:        "",
+	}
+
+	return runnerScaleSetSession, initialMessage, nil
 }
 
 func (m *AutoScalerClient) Close() error {
diff --git a/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerMessageListener_test.go b/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerMessageListener_test.go
index d0615515..2d6ef711 100644
--- a/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerMessageListener_test.go
+++ b/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerMessageListener_test.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func TestCreateSession(t *testing.T) {
 
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Error creating autoscaler client")
 	assert.Equal(t, session, session, "Session is not correct")
-	assert.Nil(t, asClient.initialMessage, "Initial message should be nil")
+	assert.NotNil(t, asClient.initialMessage, "Initial message should not be nil")
 	assert.Equal(t, int64(0), asClient.lastMessageId, "Last message id should be 0")
 	assert.True(t, mockActionsClient.AssertExpectations(t), "All expectations should be met")
 }
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ func TestCreateSession_RetrySessionConflict(t *testing.T) {
 
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Error creating autoscaler client")
 	assert.Equal(t, session, session, "Session is not correct")
-	assert.Nil(t, asClient.initialMessage, "Initial message should be nil")
+	assert.NotNil(t, asClient.initialMessage, "Initial message should not be nil")
 	assert.Equal(t, int64(0), asClient.lastMessageId, "Last message id should be 0")
 	assert.True(t, mockActionsClient.AssertExpectations(t), "All expectations should be met")
 }
@@ -334,6 +334,14 @@ func TestGetRunnerScaleSetMessage(t *testing.T) {
 		return nil
 	})
 
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Error getting message")
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(0), asClient.lastMessageId, "Initial message")
+
+	err = asClient.GetRunnerScaleSetMessage(ctx, func(msg *actions.RunnerScaleSetMessage) error {
+		logger.Info("Message received", "messageId", msg.MessageId, "messageType", msg.MessageType, "body", msg.Body)
+		return nil
+	})
+
 	assert.NoError(t, err, "Error getting message")
 	assert.Equal(t, int64(1), asClient.lastMessageId, "Last message id should be updated")
 	assert.True(t, mockActionsClient.AssertExpectations(t), "All expectations should be met")
@@ -371,13 +379,21 @@ func TestGetRunnerScaleSetMessage_HandleFailed(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Error creating autoscaler client")
 
+	// read initial message
+	err = asClient.GetRunnerScaleSetMessage(ctx, func(msg *actions.RunnerScaleSetMessage) error {
+		logger.Info("Message received", "messageId", msg.MessageId, "messageType", msg.MessageType, "body", msg.Body)
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Error getting message")
+
 	err = asClient.GetRunnerScaleSetMessage(ctx, func(msg *actions.RunnerScaleSetMessage) error {
 		logger.Info("Message received", "messageId", msg.MessageId, "messageType", msg.MessageType, "body", msg.Body)
 		return fmt.Errorf("error")
 	})
 
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "handle message failed. error", "Error getting message")
-	assert.Equal(t, int64(0), asClient.lastMessageId, "Last message id should be updated")
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(0), asClient.lastMessageId, "Last message id should not be updated")
 	assert.True(t, mockActionsClient.AssertExpectations(t), "All expectations should be met")
 	assert.True(t, mockSessionClient.AssertExpectations(t), "All expectations should be met")
 }
@@ -513,6 +529,12 @@ func TestGetRunnerScaleSetMessage_RetryUntilGetMessage(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Error creating autoscaler client")
 
+	err = asClient.GetRunnerScaleSetMessage(ctx, func(msg *actions.RunnerScaleSetMessage) error {
+		logger.Info("Message received", "messageId", msg.MessageId, "messageType", msg.MessageType, "body", msg.Body)
+		return nil
+	})
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Error getting initial message")
+
 	err = asClient.GetRunnerScaleSetMessage(ctx, func(msg *actions.RunnerScaleSetMessage) error {
 		logger.Info("Message received", "messageId", msg.MessageId, "messageType", msg.MessageType, "body", msg.Body)
 		return nil
@@ -550,6 +572,12 @@ func TestGetRunnerScaleSetMessage_ErrorOnGetMessage(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Error creating autoscaler client")
 
+	// process initial message
+	err = asClient.GetRunnerScaleSetMessage(ctx, func(msg *actions.RunnerScaleSetMessage) error {
+		return nil
+	})
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Error getting initial message")
+
 	err = asClient.GetRunnerScaleSetMessage(ctx, func(msg *actions.RunnerScaleSetMessage) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Should not be called")
 	})
@@ -592,6 +620,12 @@ func TestDeleteRunnerScaleSetMessage_Error(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Error creating autoscaler client")
 
+	err = asClient.GetRunnerScaleSetMessage(ctx, func(msg *actions.RunnerScaleSetMessage) error {
+		logger.Info("Message received", "messageId", msg.MessageId, "messageType", msg.MessageType, "body", msg.Body)
+		return nil
+	})
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Error getting initial message")
+
 	err = asClient.GetRunnerScaleSetMessage(ctx, func(msg *actions.RunnerScaleSetMessage) error {
 		logger.Info("Message received", "messageId", msg.MessageId, "messageType", msg.MessageType, "body", msg.Body)
 		return nil
diff --git a/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerService.go b/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerService.go
index dd5ccaa3..57589db3 100644
--- a/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerService.go
+++ b/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerService.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func NewService(
 		rsClient:           rsClient,
 		kubeManager:        manager,
 		settings:           settings,
-		currentRunnerCount: 0,
+		currentRunnerCount: -1, // force patch on startup
 		logger:             logr.FromContextOrDiscard(ctx),
 	}
 
@@ -51,14 +51,6 @@ func NewService(
 }
 
 func (s *Service) Start() error {
-	if s.settings.MinRunners > 0 {
-		s.logger.Info("scale to match minimal runners.")
-		err := s.scaleForAssignedJobCount(0)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("could not scale to match minimal runners. %w", err)
-		}
-	}
-
 	for {
 		s.logger.Info("waiting for message...")
 		select {
@@ -94,6 +86,10 @@ func (s *Service) processMessage(message *actions.RunnerScaleSetMessage) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
+	if message.MessageId == 0 && message.Body == "" { // initial message with statistics only
+		return s.scaleForAssignedJobCount(message.Statistics.TotalAssignedJobs)
+	}
+
 	var batchedMessages []json.RawMessage
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(strings.NewReader(message.Body)).Decode(&batchedMessages); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("could not decode job messages. %w", err)
diff --git a/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerService_test.go b/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerService_test.go
index 6581859a..a1b0e213 100644
--- a/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerService_test.go
+++ b/cmd/githubrunnerscalesetlistener/autoScalerService_test.go
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ func TestStart(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestStart_ScaleToMinRunners(t *testing.T) {
 	mockRsClient := &MockRunnerScaleSetClient{}
+
 	mockKubeManager := &MockKubernetesManager{}
 	logger, log_err := logging.NewLogger(logging.LogLevelDebug, logging.LogFormatText)
 	logger = logger.WithName(t.Name())
@@ -92,6 +93,11 @@ func TestStart_ScaleToMinRunners(t *testing.T) {
 			s.logger = logger
 		},
 	)
+
+	mockRsClient.On("GetRunnerScaleSetMessage", ctx, mock.Anything).Run(func(args mock.Arguments) {
+		_ = service.scaleForAssignedJobCount(5)
+	}).Return(nil)
+
 	mockKubeManager.On("ScaleEphemeralRunnerSet", ctx, service.settings.Namespace, service.settings.ResourceName, 5).Run(func(args mock.Arguments) { cancel() }).Return(nil).Once()
 
 	err := service.Start()
@@ -124,11 +130,15 @@ func TestStart_ScaleToMinRunnersFailed(t *testing.T) {
 			s.logger = logger
 		},
 	)
-	mockKubeManager.On("ScaleEphemeralRunnerSet", ctx, service.settings.Namespace, service.settings.ResourceName, 5).Return(fmt.Errorf("error")).Once()
+
+	c := mockKubeManager.On("ScaleEphemeralRunnerSet", ctx, service.settings.Namespace, service.settings.ResourceName, 5).Return(fmt.Errorf("error")).Once()
+	mockRsClient.On("GetRunnerScaleSetMessage", ctx, mock.Anything).Run(func(args mock.Arguments) {
+		_ = service.scaleForAssignedJobCount(5)
+	}).Return(c.ReturnArguments.Get(0))
 
 	err := service.Start()
 
-	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "could not scale to match minimal runners", "Unexpected error")
+	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "could not get and process message", "Unexpected error")
 	assert.True(t, mockRsClient.AssertExpectations(t), "All expectations should be met")
 	assert.True(t, mockKubeManager.AssertExpectations(t), "All expectations should be met")
 }