diff --git a/nostr_core/core_relay_pool.c b/nostr_core/core_relay_pool.c
index 4f64478d..e77aa1dc 100644
--- a/nostr_core/core_relay_pool.c
+++ b/nostr_core/core_relay_pool.c
@@ -1480,8 +1480,13 @@ int nostr_relay_pool_publish_async(
             }
         }
         
-        if (relay && ensure_relay_connection(relay) == 0) {
-            // Send EVENT message
+        int relay_connected = 0;
+        if (relay && relay->ws_client) {
+            relay_connected = (nostr_ws_get_state(relay->ws_client) == NOSTR_WS_CONNECTED);
+        }
+
+        if (relay_connected) {
+            // Send EVENT message only on already-connected relays
             if (nostr_relay_send_event(relay->ws_client, event) >= 0) {
                 relay->stats.events_published++;
                 success_count++;
@@ -1489,7 +1494,7 @@ int nostr_relay_pool_publish_async(
                 // If send failed and we have a callback, notify immediately
                 if (callback && op) {
                     callback(relay_urls[i], event_id, 0, "Failed to send event to relay", user_data);
-                    
+
                     // Remove this relay from the pending operation
                     int remaining = remove_relay_from_publish_operation(op, relay_urls[i]);
                     if (remaining == 0) {
@@ -1499,10 +1504,10 @@ int nostr_relay_pool_publish_async(
                 }
             }
         } else {
-            // Connection failed - notify callback immediately if provided
+            // Relay not currently connected - publish is skipped; reconnection is handled by poll loop
             if (callback && op) {
-                callback(relay_urls[i], event_id, 0, "Failed to connect to relay", user_data);
-                
+                callback(relay_urls[i], event_id, 0, "Relay not connected; publish skipped", user_data);
+
                 // Remove this relay from the pending operation
                 int remaining = remove_relay_from_publish_operation(op, relay_urls[i]);
                 if (remaining == 0) {