diff --git a/livekit/src/room/participant/local_participant.rs b/livekit/src/room/participant/local_participant.rs
index b9d955628..741bfe960 100644
--- a/livekit/src/room/participant/local_participant.rs
+++ b/livekit/src/room/participant/local_participant.rs
@@ -873,6 +873,11 @@ impl LocalParticipant {
             + 'static,
     ) {
         self.local.rpc_state.lock().handlers.insert(method, Arc::new(handler));
+
+        // Pre-connect the publisher PC so ACKs can be sent immediately when requests arrive.
+        // Without this, the first RPC request would trigger publisher negotiation, causing
+        // a ~300-500ms delay before the ACK can be sent (ICE negotiation time).
+        self.inner.rtc_engine.publisher_negotiation_needed();
     }
 
     pub fn unregister_rpc_method(&self, method: String) {