diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/DebugTapConnection.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/DebugTapConnection.cpp
index 54f327b3e..0d84d8f05 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/DebugTapConnection.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/DebugTapConnection.cpp
@@ -21,8 +21,22 @@ namespace winrt::Microsoft::TerminalApp::implementation
         }
         void Initialize(const Windows::Foundation::Collections::ValueSet& /*settings*/) {}
         ~DebugInputTapConnection() = default;
-        void Start()
+        winrt::fire_and_forget Start()
         {
+            // GH#11282: It's possible that we're about to be started, _before_
+            // our paired connection is started. Both will get Start()'ed when
+            // their owning TermControl is finally laid out. However, if we're
+            // started first, then we'll immediately start printing to the other
+            // control as well, which might not have initialized yet. If we do
+            // that, we'll explode.
+            //
+            // Instead, wait here until the other connection is started too,
+            // before actually starting the connection to the client app. This
+            // will ensure both controls are initialized before the client app
+            // is.
+            co_await winrt::resume_background();
+            _pairedTap->_start.wait();
+
             _wrappedConnection.Start();
         }
         void WriteInput(hstring const& data)
@@ -59,6 +73,9 @@ namespace winrt::Microsoft::TerminalApp::implementation
     void DebugTapConnection::Start()
     {
         // presume the wrapped connection is started.
+
+        // This is explained in the comment for GH#11282 above.
+        _start.count_down();
     }
 
     void DebugTapConnection::WriteInput(hstring const& data)
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/DebugTapConnection.h b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/DebugTapConnection.h
index c5156afc4..56d509fbf 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/DebugTapConnection.h
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/DebugTapConnection.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 #include <winrt/Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalConnection.h>
 #include "../../inc/cppwinrt_utils.h"
+#include <til/latch.h>
 
 namespace winrt::Microsoft::TerminalApp::implementation
 {
@@ -36,6 +37,8 @@ namespace winrt::Microsoft::TerminalApp::implementation
         winrt::weak_ref<Microsoft::Terminal::TerminalConnection::ITerminalConnection> _wrappedConnection;
         winrt::weak_ref<Microsoft::Terminal::TerminalConnection::ITerminalConnection> _inputSide;
 
+        til::latch _start{ 1 };
+
         friend class DebugInputTapConnection;
     };
 }
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalControl/ControlCore.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalControl/ControlCore.cpp
index efcce89c8..9c3af6bc3 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalControl/ControlCore.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalControl/ControlCore.cpp
@@ -1025,7 +1025,7 @@ namespace winrt::Microsoft::Terminal::Control::implementation
 
     TerminalConnection::ConnectionState ControlCore::ConnectionState() const
     {
-        return _connection.State();
+        return _connection ? _connection.State() : TerminalConnection::ConnectionState::Closed;
     }
 
     hstring ControlCore::Title()