diff --git a/p2p/host/relaysvc/relay.go b/p2p/host/relaysvc/relay.go
index bea8aa73a4..f9bbc7588e 100644
--- a/p2p/host/relaysvc/relay.go
+++ b/p2p/host/relaysvc/relay.go
@@ -65,14 +65,19 @@ func (m *RelayManager) background(ctx context.Context) {
 func (m *RelayManager) reachabilityChanged(r network.Reachability) error {
 	switch r {
 	case network.ReachabilityPublic:
+		m.mutex.Lock()
+		defer m.mutex.Unlock()
+		// This could happen if two consecutive EvtLocalReachabilityChanged report the same reachability.
+		// This shouldn't happen, but it's safer to double-check.
+		if m.relay != nil {
+			return nil
+		}
 		relay, err := relayv2.New(m.host, m.opts...)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		m.mutex.Lock()
-		defer m.mutex.Unlock()
 		m.relay = relay
-	case network.ReachabilityPrivate:
+	default:
 		m.mutex.Lock()
 		defer m.mutex.Unlock()
 		if m.relay != nil {
diff --git a/p2p/host/relaysvc/relay_test.go b/p2p/host/relaysvc/relay_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d995cac200
--- /dev/null
+++ b/p2p/host/relaysvc/relay_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package relaysvc
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p/core/event"
+	"github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p/core/network"
+	bhost "github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p/p2p/host/blank"
+	"github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p/p2p/host/eventbus"
+	swarmt "github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p/p2p/net/swarm/testing"
+	relayv2 "github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p/p2p/protocol/circuitv2/relay"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestReachabilityChangeEvent(t *testing.T) {
+	h := bhost.NewBlankHost(swarmt.GenSwarm(t))
+	rmgr := NewRelayManager(h)
+	emitter, err := rmgr.host.EventBus().Emitter(new(event.EvtLocalReachabilityChanged), eventbus.Stateful)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	evt := event.EvtLocalReachabilityChanged{Reachability: network.ReachabilityPublic}
+	emitter.Emit(evt)
+	require.Eventually(
+		t,
+		func() bool { rmgr.mutex.Lock(); defer rmgr.mutex.Unlock(); return rmgr.relay != nil },
+		1*time.Second,
+		100*time.Millisecond,
+		"relay should be set on public reachability")
+
+	evt = event.EvtLocalReachabilityChanged{Reachability: network.ReachabilityPrivate}
+	emitter.Emit(evt)
+	require.Eventually(
+		t,
+		func() bool { rmgr.mutex.Lock(); defer rmgr.mutex.Unlock(); return rmgr.relay == nil },
+		1*time.Second,
+		100*time.Millisecond,
+		"relay should be nil on private reachability")
+
+	evt = event.EvtLocalReachabilityChanged{Reachability: network.ReachabilityPublic}
+	emitter.Emit(evt)
+	evt = event.EvtLocalReachabilityChanged{Reachability: network.ReachabilityUnknown}
+	emitter.Emit(evt)
+	require.Eventually(
+		t,
+		func() bool { rmgr.mutex.Lock(); defer rmgr.mutex.Unlock(); return rmgr.relay == nil },
+		1*time.Second,
+		100*time.Millisecond,
+		"relay should be nil on unknown reachability")
+
+	evt = event.EvtLocalReachabilityChanged{Reachability: network.ReachabilityPublic}
+	emitter.Emit(evt)
+	var relay *relayv2.Relay
+	require.Eventually(
+		t,
+		func() bool { rmgr.mutex.Lock(); defer rmgr.mutex.Unlock(); relay = rmgr.relay; return relay != nil },
+		1*time.Second,
+		100*time.Millisecond,
+		"relay should be set on public event")
+	emitter.Emit(evt)
+	require.Never(t,
+		func() bool { rmgr.mutex.Lock(); defer rmgr.mutex.Unlock(); return relay != rmgr.relay },
+		1*time.Second,
+		100*time.Millisecond,
+		"relay should not be updated on receiving the same event")
+}