diff --git a/emmental/listenbrainz/__init__.py b/emmental/listenbrainz/__init__.py
index 95fd599..f8113f9 100644
--- a/emmental/listenbrainz/__init__.py
+++ b/emmental/listenbrainz/__init__.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class ListenBrainz(GObject.GObject):
         return GLib.SOURCE_CONTINUE
 
     def __idle_work(self) -> bool:
-        if self._thread.ready.is_set():
+        if self.sql.loaded and self._thread.ready.is_set():
             self.__check_result()
             return self.__parse_task(*self._queue.pop())
         return GLib.SOURCE_CONTINUE
diff --git a/tests/listenbrainz/test_listenbrainz.py b/tests/listenbrainz/test_listenbrainz.py
index 42874fb..90c9e5b 100644
--- a/tests/listenbrainz/test_listenbrainz.py
+++ b/tests/listenbrainz/test_listenbrainz.py
@@ -50,6 +50,21 @@ class TestListenBrainz(tests.util.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(self.listenbrainz.sql, self.sql)
         self.assertIsNone(self.listenbrainz._timeout_id)
 
+    def test_early_idle_work(self, mock_idle_add: unittest.mock.Mock,
+                             mock_source_remove: unittest.mock.Mock,
+                             mock_stdout: io.StringIO):
+        """Test __idle_work() before the database has finished loading."""
+        with unittest.mock.patch.object(self.listenbrainz._thread.ready,
+                                        "is_set") as mock_is_set:
+            self.assertEqual(self.listenbrainz._ListenBrainz__idle_work(),
+                             GLib.SOURCE_CONTINUE)
+            mock_is_set.assert_not_called()
+
+            self.sql.loaded = True
+            self.assertEqual(self.listenbrainz._ListenBrainz__idle_work(),
+                             GLib.SOURCE_REMOVE)
+            mock_is_set.assert_called()
+
     def test_stop(self, mock_idle_add: unittest.mock.Mock,
                   mock_source_remove: unittest.mock.Mock,
                   mock_stdout: io.StringIO):
@@ -72,6 +87,7 @@ class TestListenBrainz(tests.util.TestCase):
         self.assertTrue(self.listenbrainz.valid_token)
         self.assertTrue(self.listenbrainz.offline)
 
+        self.sql.loaded = True
         idle_work = self.listenbrainz._ListenBrainz__idle_work
         with unittest.mock.patch.object(self.listenbrainz._thread,
                                         "set_user_token") as mock_set_token:
@@ -115,6 +131,7 @@ class TestListenBrainz(tests.util.TestCase):
                               mock_source_remove: unittest.mock.Mock,
                               mock_stdout: io.StringIO):
         """Test clearing the user-token property."""
+        self.sql.loaded = True
         idle_work = self.listenbrainz._ListenBrainz__idle_work
         with unittest.mock.patch.object(self.listenbrainz._thread,
                                         "clear_user_token") as mock_clear:
@@ -139,6 +156,7 @@ class TestListenBrainz(tests.util.TestCase):
         """Test setting the now-playing property."""
         self.assertIsNone(self.listenbrainz.now_playing)
 
+        self.sql.loaded = True
         self.listenbrainz.user_token = "abcde"
         self.listenbrainz.valid_token = True
         self.listenbrainz.offline = False
@@ -212,6 +230,7 @@ class TestListenBrainz(tests.util.TestCase):
                    emmental.listenbrainz.listen.Listen(self.track, listenid=2,
                                                        listened_at=ts2)]
 
+        self.sql.loaded = True
         self.listenbrainz.user_token = "abcde"
         self.listenbrainz.valid_token = True
         self.listenbrainz._queue.pop()