diff --git a/internal/datasystem/data_availability.go b/internal/datasystem/data_availability.go
index 5e0fecbd..e3ad2a73 100644
--- a/internal/datasystem/data_availability.go
+++ b/internal/datasystem/data_availability.go
@@ -11,3 +11,9 @@ const (
 	// Refreshed means the SDK has obtained, at least once, the latest known data from LaunchDarkly.
 	Refreshed = DataAvailability("refreshed")
 )
+
+// AtLeast returns true if the DataAvailability is at least as good as the
+// other DataAvailability in terms of data quality.
+func (da DataAvailability) AtLeast(other DataAvailability) bool {
+	return da == Refreshed || (da == Cached && other == Defaults)
+}
diff --git a/internal/datasystem/data_availability_test.go b/internal/datasystem/data_availability_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bb35e14c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/datasystem/data_availability_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+package datasystem
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestDataAvailibilityAtLeast(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.True(t, Refreshed.AtLeast(Refreshed))
+	assert.True(t, Refreshed.AtLeast(Cached))
+	assert.True(t, Refreshed.AtLeast(Defaults))
+
+	assert.False(t, Cached.AtLeast(Refreshed))
+	assert.True(t, Cached.AtLeast(Cached))
+	assert.True(t, Cached.AtLeast(Defaults))
+
+	assert.False(t, Defaults.AtLeast(Refreshed))
+	assert.False(t, Defaults.AtLeast(Cached))
+	assert.True(t, Defaults.AtLeast(Defaults))
+}
diff --git a/ldclient.go b/ldclient.go
index 308822cf..ce5b5662 100644
--- a/ldclient.go
+++ b/ldclient.go
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ func MakeCustomClient(sdkKey string, config Config, waitFor time.Duration) (*LDC
 		for {
 			select {
 			case <-closeWhenReady:
-				if client.dataSystem.DataAvailability() != client.dataSystem.TargetAvailability() {
+				if client.dataSystem.DataAvailability().AtLeast(client.dataSystem.TargetAvailability()) {
 					loggers.Warn("LaunchDarkly client initialization failed")
 					return client, ErrInitializationFailed
 				}