diff --git a/src/models/chan.js b/src/models/chan.js
index c581bb7d..5191d898 100644
--- a/src/models/chan.js
+++ b/src/models/chan.js
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ Chan.prototype.writeUserLog = function (client, msg) {
 };
 
 Chan.prototype.loadMessages = function (client, network) {
-	if (!this.isLoggable() || !client.messageProvider) {
+	if (!this.isLoggable()) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -249,6 +249,16 @@ Chan.prototype.loadMessages = function (client, network) {
 		return;
 	}
 
+	if (!client.messageProvider) {
+		if (network.irc.network.cap.isEnabled("znc.in/playback")) {
+			// if we do have a message provider we might be able to only fetch partial history,
+			// so delay the cap in this case.
+			requestZncPlayback(this, network, 0);
+		}
+
+		return;
+	}
+
 	client.messageProvider
 		.getMessages(network, this)
 		.then((messages) => {
diff --git a/src/models/network.js b/src/models/network.js
index a5632788..b882b181 100644
--- a/src/models/network.js
+++ b/src/models/network.js
@@ -196,13 +196,8 @@ Network.prototype.createIrcFramework = function (client) {
 
 	this.irc.requestCap([
 		"znc.in/self-message", // Legacy echo-message for ZNC
+		"znc.in/playback", // See http://wiki.znc.in/Playback
 	]);
-
-	// Request only new messages from ZNC if we have sqlite logging enabled
-	// See http://wiki.znc.in/Playback
-	if (client.messageProvider) {
-		this.irc.requestCap("znc.in/playback");
-	}
 };
 
 Network.prototype.setIrcFrameworkOptions = function (client) {