diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md
index f1d74960f19..d1af05cfbc4 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md
@@ -2473,6 +2473,8 @@ export type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 //
 // @public
 export interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -2518,7 +2520,7 @@ interface WriteContext extends ReadMergeModifyContext {
 // src/core/ObservableQuery.ts:121:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "QueryInfo" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:159:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationStoreValue" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/link/http/selectHttpOptionsAndBody.ts:128:32 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "HttpQueryOptions" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 
 // (No @packageDocumentation comment for this package)
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md
index 904d5977115..dcd8d0185a3 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md
@@ -2513,6 +2513,8 @@ type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 
 // @public
 interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -2531,7 +2533,7 @@ interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVar
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:175:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationQueryReducer" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:204:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Resolver" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/react/hooks/useBackgroundQuery.ts:38:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "SubscribeToMoreFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/react/hooks/useBackgroundQuery.ts:54:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "FetchMoreFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/react/hooks/useBackgroundQuery.ts:78:4 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RefetchFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md
index 1238640825e..3d1b9280c42 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md
@@ -1995,6 +1995,8 @@ type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 
 // @public
 interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -2013,7 +2015,7 @@ interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVar
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:175:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationQueryReducer" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:204:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Resolver" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 
 // (No @packageDocumentation comment for this package)
 
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md
index 3fdc6fa3414..bd670dfa8db 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md
@@ -1915,6 +1915,8 @@ type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 
 // @public
 interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -1933,7 +1935,7 @@ interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVar
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:175:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationQueryReducer" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:204:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Resolver" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 
 // (No @packageDocumentation comment for this package)
 
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md
index 6fe263dd146..ddbb280dddb 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md
@@ -1925,6 +1925,8 @@ type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 
 // @public
 interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -1960,7 +1962,7 @@ export function withSubscription<TProps extends TGraphQLVariables | {} = {}, TDa
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:175:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationQueryReducer" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:204:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Resolver" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 
 // (No @packageDocumentation comment for this package)
 
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md
index 1c5b8fb2058..28a272077e3 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md
@@ -2337,6 +2337,8 @@ type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 
 // @public
 interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -2355,7 +2357,7 @@ interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVar
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:175:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationQueryReducer" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:204:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Resolver" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/react/hooks/useBackgroundQuery.ts:38:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "SubscribeToMoreFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/react/hooks/useBackgroundQuery.ts:54:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "FetchMoreFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/react/hooks/useBackgroundQuery.ts:78:4 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RefetchFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md
index 92a7a3747e6..b9158bb5788 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md
@@ -2355,6 +2355,8 @@ type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 
 // @public
 interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -2418,7 +2420,7 @@ export function wrapQueryRef<TData, TVariables extends OperationVariables>(inter
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:175:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationQueryReducer" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:204:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Resolver" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/react/hooks/useBackgroundQuery.ts:38:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "SubscribeToMoreFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/react/hooks/useBackgroundQuery.ts:54:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "FetchMoreFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/react/hooks/useBackgroundQuery.ts:78:4 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RefetchFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md
index 83958f92452..fe347380142 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md
@@ -1900,6 +1900,8 @@ type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 
 // @public
 interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -1918,7 +1920,7 @@ interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVar
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:175:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationQueryReducer" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:204:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Resolver" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 
 // (No @packageDocumentation comment for this package)
 
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md
index 18bbb81892d..62446d2c490 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md
@@ -1959,6 +1959,8 @@ type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 //
 // @public
 interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -1986,7 +1988,7 @@ export function withWarningSpy<TArgs extends any[], TResult>(it: (...args: TArgs
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:175:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationQueryReducer" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:204:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Resolver" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 
 // (No @packageDocumentation comment for this package)
 
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md
index 9b98b8e17de..078a162d9dd 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md
@@ -1916,6 +1916,8 @@ type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 //
 // @public
 interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -1943,7 +1945,7 @@ export function withWarningSpy<TArgs extends any[], TResult>(it: (...args: TArgs
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:175:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationQueryReducer" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:204:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Resolver" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 
 // (No @packageDocumentation comment for this package)
 
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md
index 6905e929046..f7be3962ba3 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md
@@ -2837,6 +2837,8 @@ type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 //
 // @public
 interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -2890,7 +2892,7 @@ interface WriteContext extends ReadMergeModifyContext {
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:175:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationQueryReducer" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/types.ts:204:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Resolver" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/utilities/graphql/storeUtils.ts:226:12 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "storeKeyNameStringify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/utilities/policies/pagination.ts:76:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "TRelayEdge" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/utilities/policies/pagination.ts:77:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "TRelayPageInfo" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report.api.md
index 42e41d0e105..60e4c1ff3c5 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report.api.md
@@ -3184,6 +3184,8 @@ export type WatchQueryFetchPolicy = FetchPolicy | "cache-and-network";
 
 // @public
 export interface WatchQueryOptions<TVariables extends OperationVariables = OperationVariables, TData = any> extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
+    // @internal (undocumented)
+    inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
     query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
 }
 
@@ -3229,7 +3231,7 @@ interface WriteContext extends ReadMergeModifyContext {
 // src/core/ObservableQuery.ts:121:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "QueryInfo" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:159:5 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationStoreValue" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/core/QueryManager.ts:414:7 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueries" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
-// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:277:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts:279:2 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "UpdateQueryFn" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/link/http/selectHttpOptionsAndBody.ts:128:32 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "HttpQueryOptions" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/react/hooks/useBackgroundQuery.ts:38:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "SubscribeToMoreFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // src/react/hooks/useBackgroundQuery.ts:54:3 - (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "FetchMoreFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
diff --git a/.size-limits.json b/.size-limits.json
index 5790c408cde..42d16d0cb1f 100644
--- a/.size-limits.json
+++ b/.size-limits.json
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 {
-  "dist/apollo-client.min.cjs": 41640,
-  "import { ApolloClient, InMemoryCache, HttpLink } from \"dist/index.js\" (production)": 34381
+  "dist/apollo-client.min.cjs": 41719,
+  "import { ApolloClient, InMemoryCache, HttpLink } from \"dist/index.js\" (production)": 34458
 }
diff --git a/src/core/ObservableQuery.ts b/src/core/ObservableQuery.ts
index 2a70e6e9097..6daeb637389 100644
--- a/src/core/ObservableQuery.ts
+++ b/src/core/ObservableQuery.ts
@@ -121,7 +121,13 @@ export class ObservableQuery<
     queryInfo: QueryInfo;
     options: WatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData>;
   }) {
+    let startedInactive = options.inactiveBeforeSubscription;
     super((observer: Observer<ApolloQueryResult<MaybeMasked<TData>>>) => {
+      if (startedInactive && !queryManager["queries"].has(this.queryId)) {
+        queryManager["queries"].set(this.queryId, queryInfo);
+        startedInactive = false;
+      }
+
       // Zen Observable has its own error function, so in order to log correctly
       // we need to provide a custom error callback.
       try {
diff --git a/src/core/QueryManager.ts b/src/core/QueryManager.ts
index 066dc137de9..bf550ddf13b 100644
--- a/src/core/QueryManager.ts
+++ b/src/core/QueryManager.ts
@@ -780,7 +780,9 @@ export class QueryManager<TStore> {
     });
     observable["lastQuery"] = query;
 
-    this.queries.set(observable.queryId, queryInfo);
+    if (!options.inactiveBeforeSubscription) {
+      this.queries.set(observable.queryId, queryInfo);
+    }
 
     // We give queryInfo the transformed query to ensure the first cache diff
     // uses the transformed query instead of the raw query
diff --git a/src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts b/src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts
index 1528b1d0330..d6cac6dca9a 100644
--- a/src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts
+++ b/src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ export interface WatchQueryOptions<
 > extends SharedWatchQueryOptions<TVariables, TData> {
   /** {@inheritDoc @apollo/client!QueryOptionsDocumentation#query:member} */
   query: DocumentNode | TypedDocumentNode<TData, TVariables>;
+  /** @internal */
+  inactiveBeforeSubscription?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface SharedWatchQueryOptions<
diff --git a/src/react/hooks/__tests__/useQuery.test.tsx b/src/react/hooks/__tests__/useQuery.test.tsx
index 2edf19d2a36..1879438335c 100644
--- a/src/react/hooks/__tests__/useQuery.test.tsx
+++ b/src/react/hooks/__tests__/useQuery.test.tsx
@@ -1540,7 +1540,7 @@ describe("useQuery Hook", () => {
 
       function checkObservableQueries(expectedLinkCount: number) {
         const obsQueries = client.getObservableQueries("all");
-        expect(obsQueries.size).toBe(2);
+        expect(obsQueries.size).toBe(1);
 
         const activeSet = new Set<typeof result.current.observable>();
         const inactiveSet = new Set<typeof result.current.observable>();
diff --git a/src/react/hooks/useQuery.ts b/src/react/hooks/useQuery.ts
index a1b83c3c68c..cfead25c9a8 100644
--- a/src/react/hooks/useQuery.ts
+++ b/src/react/hooks/useQuery.ts
@@ -614,6 +614,8 @@ export function createMakeWatchQueryOptions<
         getDefaultFetchPolicy(defaultOptions, client.defaultOptions);
     }
 
+    watchQueryOptions.inactiveBeforeSubscription = true;
+
     return watchQueryOptions;
   };
 }