diff --git a/google/cloud/alloydb/connector/connector.py b/google/cloud/alloydb/connector/connector.py
index c7af92de..c960cb5a 100644
--- a/google/cloud/alloydb/connector/connector.py
+++ b/google/cloud/alloydb/connector/connector.py
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ async def connect_async(self, instance_uri: str, driver: str, **kwargs: Any) ->
             return await self._loop.run_in_executor(None, connect_partial)
         except Exception:
             # we attempt a force refresh, then throw the error
-            instance.force_refresh()
+            await instance.force_refresh()
             raise
 
     def __enter__(self) -> "Connector":
diff --git a/google/cloud/alloydb/connector/instance.py b/google/cloud/alloydb/connector/instance.py
index dec485dd..62b686d5 100644
--- a/google/cloud/alloydb/connector/instance.py
+++ b/google/cloud/alloydb/connector/instance.py
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ async def _refresh_operation(self, delay: int) -> RefreshResult:
 
         return refresh_result
 
-    def force_refresh(self) -> None:
+    async def force_refresh(self) -> None:
         """
         Schedules a new refresh operation immediately to be used
         for future connection attempts.
@@ -196,8 +196,9 @@ def force_refresh(self) -> None:
         if not self._refresh_in_progress.is_set():
             self._next.cancel()
             self._next = self._schedule_refresh(0)
-        # block all sequential connection attempts on the next refresh result
-        self._current = self._next
+        # block all sequential connection attempts on the next refresh result if current is invalid
+        if not await _is_valid(self._current):
+            self._current = self._next
 
     async def connection_info(self) -> Tuple[str, ssl.SSLContext]:
         """
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_instance.py b/tests/unit/test_instance.py
index 4cceb49b..58b0bec3 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_instance.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_instance.py
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ async def test_force_refresh_cancels_pending_refresh() -> None:
     # shouldn't be set
     pending_refresh = instance._next
     assert instance._refresh_in_progress.is_set() is False
-    instance.force_refresh()
+    await instance.force_refresh()
     # pending_refresh has to be awaited for it to raised as cancelled
     with pytest.raises(asyncio.CancelledError):
         assert await pending_refresh