diff --git a/arbnode/node.go b/arbnode/node.go
index f2ed2941fa..8be2a982cf 100644
--- a/arbnode/node.go
+++ b/arbnode/node.go
@@ -773,9 +773,9 @@ func (n *Node) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error initializing feed broadcast server: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
-	if n.InboxTracker != nil && n.BroadcastServer != nil && config.Sequencer && !config.SeqCoordinator.Enable {
-		// Normally, the sequencer would populate the feed backlog when it acquires the lockout.
-		// However, if the sequencer coordinator is not enabled, we must populate the backlog on startup.
+	if n.InboxTracker != nil && n.BroadcastServer != nil && config.Sequencer {
+		// Even if the sequencer coordinator will populate this backlog,
+		// we want to make sure it's populated before any clients connect.
 		err = n.InboxTracker.PopulateFeedBacklog(n.BroadcastServer)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error populating feed backlog on startup: %w", err)
diff --git a/broadcaster/backlog/backlog.go b/broadcaster/backlog/backlog.go
index 448bb79b13..851561f482 100644
--- a/broadcaster/backlog/backlog.go
+++ b/broadcaster/backlog/backlog.go
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ func (b *backlog) Append(bm *m.BroadcastMessage) error {
 			segment = newBacklogSegment()
 			b.head.Store(segment)
 			b.tail.Store(segment)
+			confirmedSequenceNumberGauge.Update(int64(msg.SequenceNumber))
 		}
 
 		prevMsgIdx := segment.End()