diff --git a/irc/history/history.go b/irc/history/history.go
index 5f604c23..a70eb894 100644
--- a/irc/history/history.go
+++ b/irc/history/history.go
@@ -101,14 +101,7 @@ func NewHistoryBuffer(size int, window time.Duration) (result *Buffer) {
 }
 
 func (hist *Buffer) Initialize(size int, window time.Duration) {
-	initialSize := size
-	if window != 0 {
-		initialSize = initialAutoSize
-		if size < initialSize {
-			initialSize = size // min(initialAutoSize, size)
-		}
-	}
-	hist.buffer = make([]Item, initialSize)
+	hist.buffer = make([]Item, hist.initialSize(size, window))
 	hist.start = -1
 	hist.end = -1
 	hist.window = window
@@ -118,6 +111,18 @@ func (hist *Buffer) Initialize(size int, window time.Duration) {
 	hist.setEnabled(size)
 }
 
+// compute the initial size for the buffer, taking into account autoresize
+func (hist *Buffer) initialSize(size int, window time.Duration) (result int) {
+	result = size
+	if window != 0 {
+		result = initialAutoSize
+		if size < result {
+			result = size // min(initialAutoSize, size)
+		}
+	}
+	return
+}
+
 func (hist *Buffer) setEnabled(size int) {
 	var enabled uint32
 	if size != 0 {
@@ -339,12 +344,19 @@ func (list *Buffer) Resize(maximumSize int, window time.Duration) {
 	list.maximumSize = maximumSize
 	list.window = window
 
-	// if we're not autoresizing, we need to resize now;
-	// if we are autoresizing, we may need to shrink the buffer down to maximumSize,
-	// but we don't need to grow it now (we can just grow it on the next Add)
+	// three cases where we need to preemptively resize:
+	// (1) we are not autoresizing
+	// (2) the buffer is currently larger than maximumSize and needs to be shrunk
+	// (3) the buffer is currently smaller than the recommended initial size
+	//     (including the case where it is currently disabled and needs to be enabled)
 	// TODO make it possible to shrink the buffer so that it only contains `window`
 	if window == 0 || maximumSize < len(list.buffer) {
 		list.resize(maximumSize)
+	} else {
+		initialSize := list.initialSize(maximumSize, window)
+		if len(list.buffer) < initialSize {
+			list.resize(initialSize)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/irc/history/history_test.go b/irc/history/history_test.go
index 10364437..e50cfb28 100644
--- a/irc/history/history_test.go
+++ b/irc/history/history_test.go
@@ -213,6 +213,35 @@ func TestAutoresize(t *testing.T) {
 	assertEqual(atoi(items[len(items)-1].Nick), 271, t)
 }
 
+// regression test for #702
+func TestEnabledByResize(t *testing.T) {
+	now := easyParse("2006-01-01 00:00:00Z")
+	// empty/disabled autoresizing buffer
+	buf := NewHistoryBuffer(0, time.Hour)
+	// enable the buffer as during a rehash
+	buf.Resize(128, time.Hour)
+	// add an item and test that it is stored and retrievable
+	buf.Add(autoItem(0, now))
+	items := buf.Latest(0)
+	assertEqual(len(items), 1, t)
+	assertEqual(atoi(items[0].Nick), 0, t)
+}
+
+func TestDisabledByResize(t *testing.T) {
+	now := easyParse("2006-01-01 00:00:00Z")
+	// enabled autoresizing buffer
+	buf := NewHistoryBuffer(128, time.Hour)
+	buf.Add(autoItem(0, now))
+	items := buf.Latest(0)
+	assertEqual(len(items), 1, t)
+	assertEqual(atoi(items[0].Nick), 0, t)
+
+	// disable as during a rehash, confirm that nothing can be retrieved
+	buf.Resize(0, time.Hour)
+	items = buf.Latest(0)
+	assertEqual(len(items), 0, t)
+}
+
 func TestRoundUp(t *testing.T) {
 	assertEqual(roundUpToPowerOfTwo(2), 2, t)
 	assertEqual(roundUpToPowerOfTwo(3), 4, t)