diff --git a/akka-cluster-tools/src/main/scala/akka/cluster/singleton/ClusterSingletonManager.scala b/akka-cluster-tools/src/main/scala/akka/cluster/singleton/ClusterSingletonManager.scala
index 9a25bfa461..70dc6f22d1 100644
--- a/akka-cluster-tools/src/main/scala/akka/cluster/singleton/ClusterSingletonManager.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster-tools/src/main/scala/akka/cluster/singleton/ClusterSingletonManager.scala
@@ -626,6 +626,10 @@ class ClusterSingletonManager(singletonProps: Props, terminationMessage: Any, se
         goto(BecomingOldest).using(BecomingOldestData(oldest.filterNot(_ == cluster.selfUniqueAddress)))
       else
         goto(Younger).using(YoungerData(oldest.filterNot(_ == cluster.selfUniqueAddress)))
+
+    case Event(HandOverToMe, _) =>
+      // nothing to hand over in start
+      stay()
   }
 
   when(Younger) {