diff --git a/library/core/src/iter/adapters/intersperse.rs b/library/core/src/iter/adapters/intersperse.rs
index bb94ed0a0a170..f33a67a983103 100644
--- a/library/core/src/iter/adapters/intersperse.rs
+++ b/library/core/src/iter/adapters/intersperse.rs
@@ -57,8 +57,9 @@ where
                 }
             }
         } else {
-            self.started = true;
-            self.iter.next()
+            let item = self.iter.next();
+            self.started = item.is_some();
+            item
         }
     }
 
@@ -173,8 +174,9 @@ where
                 }
             }
         } else {
-            self.started = true;
-            self.iter.next()
+            let item = self.iter.next();
+            self.started = item.is_some();
+            item
         }
     }