diff --git a/db/pglite/pglite.go b/db/pglite/pglite.go
index 9868dd6c6..81fae3bb6 100644
--- a/db/pglite/pglite.go
+++ b/db/pglite/pglite.go
@@ -512,6 +512,7 @@ func (pg *PGlite) forwardWire(packet []byte, outFile string) ([][]byte, error) {
 		_, _ = pg.fnUseWire.Call(ctx, api.EncodeI32(1))
 	}
 	var replies [][]byte
+	resends := 0
 	for range maxTicks {
 		producedBefore := pg.collectReply(outFile, &replies)
 		t0 := time.Now()
@@ -544,6 +545,16 @@ func (pg *PGlite) forwardWire(packet []byte, outFile string) ([][]byte, error) {
 		}
 		producedAfter := pg.collectReply(outFile, &replies)
 		if !producedBefore && !producedAfter {
+			// No output at all means the backend did not run the packet (a run always emits at
+			// least a completion); seen right after handshakes. Hand it over again, twice at most.
+			if len(packet) > 0 && len(replies) == 0 && resends < 2 {
+				resends++
+				fmt.Fprintf(pg.cfg.Stderr, "# bridge: empty reply to %s; resending (%d)\n", wireTags(packet), resends)
+				if err := pg.send(packet, strings.TrimSuffix(outFile, ".out")); err != nil {
+					return nil, err
+				}
+				continue
+			}
 			break
 		}
 		if endsWithReadyForQuery(replies) {