diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 46fb16e..943360b 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -136,11 +136,19 @@ export default class DHTCache extends EventEmitter {
 
     this._removeEntity(item);
 
-    this._broadcastMessage({
-      type: Type.REMOVE_ITEM,
-      data: b4a.from(item, "hex"),
-      signature: this._signItem(item),
-    });
+    const broadcast = () => {
+      this._broadcastMessage({
+        type: Type.REMOVE_ITEM,
+        data: b4a.from(item as string, "hex"),
+        signature: this._signItem(item),
+      });
+    };
+
+    if (!this.bootstrapped) {
+      this.once("bootstrapped", broadcast);
+    } else {
+      broadcast();
+    }
 
     return true;
   }