diff --git a/bc.lua b/bc.lua
index eea38bed2999..357b1fa69976 100644
--- a/bc.lua
+++ b/bc.lua
@@ -147,14 +147,17 @@ function BaseControl:finalize(waits, timeout)
     self = BaseControl:new()
   end
 
-  -- Announce own nouns and verbs
-  local nouns, verbs = self:nouns(true), self:verbs(true)
-  if #nouns > 0 or #verbs > 0 then
-    self.network:broadcast{
-      ty=Message.Register,
-      nouns=nouns,
-      verbs=verbs,
-    }
+  -- Announce own nouns and verbs if this is the first
+  -- call to finalize() and we have registered names
+  if not self.live then
+    local nouns, verbs = self:nouns(true), self:verbs(true)
+    if #nouns > 0 or #verbs > 0 then
+      self.network:broadcast{
+        ty=Message.Register,
+        nouns=nouns,
+        verbs=verbs,
+      }
+    end
   end
 
   if #(waits or {}) ~= 0 then