diff --git a/morango/constants/transfer_stages.py b/morango/constants/transfer_stages.py
index a93c69e..7362062 100644
--- a/morango/constants/transfer_stages.py
+++ b/morango/constants/transfer_stages.py
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 """
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
+# A special null stage to use before the transfer session has been started
+# this allows the initializing stage to be properly invoked.
+# This is not included in ALL or CHOICES below because it is not a valid stage.
+NO_STAGE = "no_stage"
 INITIALIZING = "initializing"
 SERIALIZING = "serializing"
 QUEUING = "queuing"
@@ -24,6 +28,7 @@
 ALL = {stage for stage, _ in CHOICES}
 
 PRECEDENCE = {
+    NO_STAGE: 0,
     INITIALIZING: 10,
     SERIALIZING: 20,
     QUEUING: 30,
diff --git a/morango/sync/context.py b/morango/sync/context.py
index d8013d7..da46902 100644
--- a/morango/sync/context.py
+++ b/morango/sync/context.py
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ def stage(self):
         """
         :return: A transfer_stage.* constant
         """
-        stage = transfer_stages.INITIALIZING
+        stage = transfer_stages.NO_STAGE
         if self._has_transfer_session:
             stage = self.transfer_session.transfer_stage or stage
         return stage
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ def __init__(self, connection, **kwargs):
         super(NetworkSessionContext, self).__init__(**kwargs)
 
         # since this is network context, keep local reference to state vars
-        self._stage = transfer_stages.INITIALIZING
+        self._stage = transfer_stages.NO_STAGE
         self._stage_status = transfer_statuses.PENDING
 
     @property
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ def __init__(self, contexts, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         self.children = contexts
         self._counter = 0
-        self._stage = transfer_stages.INITIALIZING
+        self._stage = transfer_stages.NO_STAGE
         self._stage_status = transfer_statuses.PENDING
         super(CompositeSessionContext, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self._update_attrs(**kwargs)
diff --git a/morango/sync/utils.py b/morango/sync/utils.py
index a025b55..8908b94 100644
--- a/morango/sync/utils.py
+++ b/morango/sync/utils.py
@@ -181,6 +181,14 @@ def connect(self, handler):
         """
         self._handlers.append(handler)
 
+    def disconnect(self, handler):
+        """
+        Removes a callable handler that would be called when the signal is fired.
+
+        :type handler: function
+        """
+        self._handlers.remove(handler)
+
     def fire(self, **kwargs):
         """
         Fires the handler functions connected via `connect`.
diff --git a/tests/testapp/tests/test_api.py b/tests/testapp/tests/test_api.py
index 01d7399..b8c2ef3 100644
--- a/tests/testapp/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/testapp/tests/test_api.py
@@ -10,12 +10,14 @@
 from django.utils import timezone
 from django.utils.functional import SimpleLazyObject
 from facility_profile.models import MyUser
+from mock import Mock
 from rest_framework.test import APITestCase as BaseTestCase
 
 from .compat import EnvironmentVarGuard
 from morango.api.serializers import BufferSerializer
 from morango.api.serializers import CertificateSerializer
 from morango.api.serializers import InstanceIDSerializer
+from morango.api.viewsets import session_controller
 from morango.constants import transfer_stages
 from morango.constants import transfer_statuses
 from morango.models.certificates import Certificate
@@ -790,6 +792,19 @@ def test_transfersession_creation_fails_for_nonexistent_syncsession(self):
             syncsession=syncsession,
         )
 
+    def test_transfersession_creation_calls_initializing_started_handler(self):
+        mock = Mock()
+        session_controller.signals.initializing.started.connect(mock)
+        try:
+
+            self.make_transfersession_creation_request(
+                filter=str(self.sub_subset_cert1_with_key.get_scope().write_filter),
+                push=True,
+            )
+            self.assertTrue(mock.called)
+        finally:
+            session_controller.signals.initializing.started.disconnect(mock)
+
     def test_transfersession_can_be_deleted(self):
 
         self.test_transfersession_can_be_created()