diff --git a/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/PickFirstLeafLoadBalancer.java b/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/PickFirstLeafLoadBalancer.java
index cd9ff9ab58c..a56dadf5593 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/PickFirstLeafLoadBalancer.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/PickFirstLeafLoadBalancer.java
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@ final class PickFirstLeafLoadBalancer extends LoadBalancer {
   private final Map<SocketAddress, SubchannelData> subchannels = new HashMap<>();
   private final Index addressIndex = new Index(ImmutableList.of(), this.enableHappyEyeballs);
   private int numTf = 0;
-  private boolean firstPass = true;
   @Nullable
   private ScheduledHandle scheduleConnectionTask = null;
   private ConnectivityState rawConnectivityState = IDLE;
@@ -120,9 +119,6 @@ public Status acceptResolvedAddresses(ResolvedAddresses resolvedAddresses) {
       }
     }
 
-    // Since we have a new set of addresses, we are again at first pass
-    firstPass = true;
-
     List<EquivalentAddressGroup> cleanServers = deDupAddresses(servers);
 
     // We can optionally be configured to shuffle the address list. This can help better distribute
@@ -298,6 +294,7 @@ void processSubchannelState(SubchannelData subchannelData, ConnectivityStateInfo
     }
 
     if (newState == IDLE && subchannelData.state == READY) {
+      numTf = 0;
       helper.refreshNameResolution();
     }
 
@@ -344,6 +341,8 @@ void processSubchannelState(SubchannelData subchannelData, ConnectivityStateInfo
         break;
 
       case TRANSIENT_FAILURE:
+        numTf++;
+
         // If we are looking at current channel, request a connection if possible
         if (addressIndex.isValid()
             && subchannels.get(addressIndex.getCurrentAddress()) == subchannelData) {
@@ -369,12 +368,9 @@ void processSubchannelState(SubchannelData subchannelData, ConnectivityStateInfo
 
           // Refresh Name Resolution, but only when all 3 conditions are met
           // * We are at the end of addressIndex
-          // * have had status reported for all subchannels.
-          // * And one of the following conditions:
-          //    * Have had enough TF reported since we completed first pass
-          //    * Just completed the first pass
-          if (++numTf >= addressIndex.size() || firstPass) {
-            firstPass = false;
+          // * Have had status reported for all subchannels.
+          // * Have had enough TF reported since the last refresh
+          if (numTf >= addressIndex.size()) {
             numTf = 0;
             helper.refreshNameResolution();
           }
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/io/grpc/internal/PickFirstLeafLoadBalancerTest.java b/core/src/test/java/io/grpc/internal/PickFirstLeafLoadBalancerTest.java
index cb73d17d682..d94e2b94c74 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/io/grpc/internal/PickFirstLeafLoadBalancerTest.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/io/grpc/internal/PickFirstLeafLoadBalancerTest.java
@@ -1940,6 +1940,7 @@ public void updateAddresses_identical_transient_failure() {
     loadBalancer.acceptResolvedAddresses(
         ResolvedAddresses.newBuilder().setAddresses(oldServers).setAttributes(affinity).build());
     inOrder.verify(mockHelper).updateBalancingState(eq(CONNECTING), pickerCaptor.capture());
+    inOrder.verify(mockHelper).createSubchannel(any());
     inOrder.verify(mockSubchannel1).start(stateListenerCaptor.capture());
     SubchannelStateListener stateListener = stateListenerCaptor.getValue();
     assertEquals(CONNECTING, loadBalancer.getConcludedConnectivityState());
@@ -1949,6 +1950,7 @@ public void updateAddresses_identical_transient_failure() {
     assertEquals(CONNECTING, loadBalancer.getConcludedConnectivityState());
 
     // Second connection attempt is unsuccessful
+    inOrder.verify(mockHelper).createSubchannel(any());
     inOrder.verify(mockSubchannel2).start(stateListenerCaptor.capture());
     assertEquals(CONNECTING, loadBalancer.getConcludedConnectivityState());
     SubchannelStateListener stateListener2 = stateListenerCaptor.getValue();
@@ -1961,10 +1963,11 @@ public void updateAddresses_identical_transient_failure() {
     loadBalancer.acceptResolvedAddresses(
         ResolvedAddresses.newBuilder().setAddresses(oldServers).setAttributes(affinity).build());
 
-    // Verify that no new subchannels were created or started
-    verify(mockHelper, times(2)).createSubchannel(createArgsCaptor.capture());
-    verify(mockSubchannel1, times(1)).start(stateListenerCaptor.capture());
-    verify(mockSubchannel2, times(1)).start(stateListenerCaptor.capture());
+    // Verify that no new subchannels were created or started, nor resolver refresh
+    inOrder.verify(mockHelper, never()).createSubchannel(createArgsCaptor.capture());
+    inOrder.verify(mockSubchannel1, never()).start(stateListenerCaptor.capture());
+    inOrder.verify(mockSubchannel2, never()).start(stateListenerCaptor.capture());
+    inOrder.verify(mockHelper, never()).refreshNameResolution();
     assertEquals(TRANSIENT_FAILURE, loadBalancer.getConcludedConnectivityState());
 
     // No new connections are requested, subchannels responsible for completing their own backoff
@@ -1972,7 +1975,12 @@ public void updateAddresses_identical_transient_failure() {
     verify(mockHelper, atLeast(0)).getScheduledExecutorService();
     verifyNoMoreInteractions(mockHelper);
 
-    // First connection attempt is successful
+    // Second connection is unsuccessful (e.g., retry after backoff), and there is no name resolver
+    // refresh
+    stateListener2.onSubchannelState(ConnectivityStateInfo.forTransientFailure(CONNECTION_ERROR));
+    inOrder.verify(mockHelper, never()).refreshNameResolution();
+
+    // First connection is successful
     stateListener.onSubchannelState(ConnectivityStateInfo.forNonError(READY));
     assertEquals(READY, loadBalancer.getConcludedConnectivityState());
     inOrder.verify(mockSubchannel2).shutdown();