diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 512ba28..bc7606e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
-- Update to 1.21.3
+- (fix) do not attempt to send the Hello packet when the client does not have RCH installed. 
+  - This means that RCH is now properly client-optional again, as intended.
diff --git a/common/src/main/java/io/github/jamalam360/rightclickharvest/RightClickHarvest.java b/common/src/main/java/io/github/jamalam360/rightclickharvest/RightClickHarvest.java
index 4b8784e..aafc005 100644
--- a/common/src/main/java/io/github/jamalam360/rightclickharvest/RightClickHarvest.java
+++ b/common/src/main/java/io/github/jamalam360/rightclickharvest/RightClickHarvest.java
@@ -66,7 +66,11 @@ public static void init() {
             NetworkManager.registerS2CPayloadType(HelloPacket.TYPE, HelloPacket.STREAM_CODEC);
         }
 
-        PlayerEvent.PLAYER_JOIN.register((player) -> NetworkManager.sendToPlayer(player, new HelloPacket()));
+        PlayerEvent.PLAYER_JOIN.register((player) -> {
+            if (NetworkManager.canPlayerReceive(player, HelloPacket.TYPE)) {
+                NetworkManager.sendToPlayer(player, new HelloPacket());
+            }
+        });
         
         InteractionEvent.RIGHT_CLICK_BLOCK.register(((player, hand, pos, face) -> RightClickHarvest.onBlockUse(player, player.level(), hand, new BlockHitResult(player.position(), face, pos, false), true)));
     }
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 65f9e99..bb51747 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 org.gradle.jvmargs=-Xmx3G
 org.gradle.daemon=false
 org.gradle.parallel=true
-version=4.4.1+1.21.3
+version=4.4.2+1.21.3
 minecraft_version=1.21.3
 additional_minecraft_versions=1.21.2
 minimum_minecraft_version=1.21.2