diff --git a/CS2-Tags.cs b/CS2-Tags.cs
index 4b87067..af56b24 100644
--- a/CS2-Tags.cs
+++ b/CS2-Tags.cs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public class CS2_Tags : BasePlugin
 	public override string ModuleName => "CS2-Tags";
 	public override string ModuleDescription => "Add player tags easily in cs2 game";
 	public override string ModuleAuthor => "daffyy";
-	public override string ModuleVersion => "1.0.4c-zio6";
+	public override string ModuleVersion => "1.0.4c-zio7";
 
 	private static string TagsPath => Path.Combine(Server.GameDirectory, "csgo", "addons", "counterstrikesharp",
 		"configs", "plugins", "CS2-Tags", "tags.json");
@@ -89,7 +89,9 @@ public class CS2_Tags : BasePlugin
 		Logger.LogInformation(_verify == null
 			? "GroupVerify isn't loaded: players without a rank tag keep their own"
 			: "Using GroupVerify's clan tag for verified players without a rank tag");
-		if (_verify != null)
+		// Only after a hot reload: at server start nobody is connected, and the engine's globals
+		// (which GetPlayers needs) don't exist yet.
+		if (_verify != null && hotReload)
 			ApplyAllClanTags();
 	}
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e635ed1..79e6cad 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -112,4 +112,4 @@ FORGEJO_TOKEN=... ./release.sh v<ModuleVersion>
 
 `release.sh` rebuilds from the committed source and publishes `CS2-Tags-<tag>.tar.gz`, laid out
 like `game/csgo/`, to https://git.zio.sh/cs2/CS2-Tags. The tag must equal `v<ModuleVersion>`
-(`v1.0.4c-zio6` now).
+(`v1.0.4c-zio7` now).