diff --git a/src/execnet/gateway.py b/src/execnet/gateway.py
index 547be291..f79f3dde 100644
--- a/src/execnet/gateway.py
+++ b/src/execnet/gateway.py
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ def __init__(self, io: IO, spec: XSpec) -> None:
         super().__init__(io=io, id=spec.id, _startcount=1)
         self.spec = spec
         self._initreceive()
+        if self.execmodel.backend == "main_thread_only":
+            # This will cause a deadlock if there is already a running
+            # remote_exec, so cache the result before there are any
+            # other remote_exec calls.
+            self._rinfo()
 
     @property
     def remoteaddress(self) -> str: