diff --git a/hikari/impl/stateful_event_manager.py b/hikari/impl/stateful_event_manager.py
index a31236be75..8ad6574d1d 100644
--- a/hikari/impl/stateful_event_manager.py
+++ b/hikari/impl/stateful_event_manager.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 __all__: typing.Final[typing.List[str]] = ["StatefulEventManagerImpl"]
 
+import asyncio
 import typing
 
 from hikari import channels
@@ -166,7 +167,9 @@ async def on_guild_create(self, shard: gateway_shard.GatewayShard, payload: data
         # payload if presence intents are also declared, so if this isn't the case then we also want
         # to chunk small guilds.
         if (event.guild.is_large or not presences_declared) and members_declared:
-            await shard.request_guild_members(event.guild)
+            # We create a task here instead of awaiting the result to avoid any rate-limits from delaying dispatch.
+            coroutine = shard.request_guild_members(event.guild)
+            asyncio.create_task(coroutine, name=f"{event.shard.id}:{event.guild.id} guild create members request")
 
         await self.dispatch(event)
 
diff --git a/tests/hikari/hikari_test_helpers.py b/tests/hikari/hikari_test_helpers.py
index 51d22d4281..05f439bc9f 100644
--- a/tests/hikari/hikari_test_helpers.py
+++ b/tests/hikari/hikari_test_helpers.py
@@ -267,3 +267,8 @@ async def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
         return decorator(decorated_func)
     else:
         return decorator
+
+
+async def gather_all_tasks():
+    """Ensure all created tasks except the current are finished before asserting anything."""
+    await asyncio.gather(*(task for task in asyncio.all_tasks() if task is not asyncio.current_task()))