diff --git a/pkg/embeddedcluster/upgrade.go b/pkg/embeddedcluster/upgrade.go
index 918f0b2372..dae1f3b163 100644
--- a/pkg/embeddedcluster/upgrade.go
+++ b/pkg/embeddedcluster/upgrade.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	dockerregistrytypes "github.com/replicatedhq/kots/pkg/docker/registry/types"
 	"github.com/replicatedhq/kots/pkg/imageutil"
 	"github.com/replicatedhq/kots/pkg/k8sutil"
+	"github.com/replicatedhq/kots/pkg/logger"
 	registrytypes "github.com/replicatedhq/kots/pkg/registry/types"
 	"github.com/replicatedhq/kots/pkg/util"
 	kotsv1beta1 "github.com/replicatedhq/kotskinds/apis/kots/v1beta1"
@@ -75,6 +76,11 @@ func startClusterUpgrade(
 
 	log.Printf("Starting cluster upgrade to version %s...", newcfg.Version)
 
+	// We cannot notify the upgrade started until the new install is created
+	if err := NotifyUpgradeStarted(ctx, license.Spec.Endpoint, newInstall, current); err != nil {
+		logger.Errorf("Failed to notify upgrade started: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	err = runClusterUpgrade(ctx, k8sClient, newInstall, registrySettings, license, versionLabel)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("run cluster upgrade: %w", err)
diff --git a/pkg/upgradeservice/deploy/deploy.go b/pkg/upgradeservice/deploy/deploy.go
index 427b3adba6..3bd84c42d7 100644
--- a/pkg/upgradeservice/deploy/deploy.go
+++ b/pkg/upgradeservice/deploy/deploy.go
@@ -133,10 +133,6 @@ func Deploy(opts DeployOptions) error {
 		defer close(finishedCh)
 		tasks.StartTicker(task.GetID(opts.Params.AppSlug), finishedCh)
 
-		if err := notifyUpgradeStarted(context.Background(), kbClient, opts); err != nil {
-			logger.Errorf("Failed to notify upgrade started: %v", err)
-		}
-
 		if err := embeddedcluster.StartClusterUpgrade(context.Background(), opts.KotsKinds, opts.RegistrySettings); err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrap(err, "failed to start cluster upgrade")
 		}
@@ -158,31 +154,6 @@ func Deploy(opts DeployOptions) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// notifyUpgradeStarted sends a metrics event to the api that the upgrade started.
-func notifyUpgradeStarted(ctx context.Context, kbClient kbclient.Client, opts DeployOptions) error {
-	ins, err := embeddedcluster.GetCurrentInstallation(ctx, kbClient)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get current installation: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if ins.Spec.AirGap {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	prev, err := embeddedcluster.GetPreviousInstallation(ctx, kbClient)
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "failed to get previous installation")
-	} else if prev == nil {
-		return errors.New("previous installation not found")
-	}
-
-	err = embeddedcluster.NotifyUpgradeStarted(ctx, opts.KotsKinds.License.Spec.Endpoint, ins, prev)
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "failed to send event")
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 // notifyUpgradeFailed sends a metrics event to the api that the upgrade failed.
 func notifyUpgradeFailed(ctx context.Context, kbClient kbclient.Client, opts DeployOptions, reason string) error {
 	ins, err := embeddedcluster.GetCurrentInstallation(ctx, kbClient)