The invention relates to an auto-injector (1) for administering a dose of a liquid medicament (M), comprising: - a tubular chassis (2) telescopable in an elongate chassis (12), - a carrier subassembly comprising a tubular carrier (7) slidably arranged partially inside the chassis (2) and inside the case (12), the carrier (7) adapted to contain a syringe (3) with a hollow injection needle (4), a drive spring (8) and a plunger (9) for forwarding load of the drive spring (8) to a stopper (6) of the syringe (3), wherein the syringe (3) is lockable for joint axial translation with the carrier (7), - a control spring (19) arranged around the carrier (7), - a needle insertion control mechanism (24) for coupling a proximal end of the control spring (19) to either the carrier (7) for advancing it for needle insertion or to the chassis (2), wherein the needle insertion control mechanism (24) comprises a first collar (20) biased by the control spring in a proximal direction (P), wherein at least one fifth clip (2.10) is arranged on one of the chassis (2) or the first collar (20) initially abutting a block (20.7) on the other of the chassis (2) or the first collar (20), wherein a ramped engagement between the fifth clip (2.10) and the carrier (7) is provided for outwardly deflecting the fifth clip (2.10) on translation of the carrier (7) in the proximal direction (P), wherein outward deflection of the fifth clip (2.10) and translation of the carrier (7) in the proximal direction (P) is initially prevented by the case (12) outwardly abutting the fifth clip (2.10), wherein the case (12) is at least initially biased in the distal direction (D), wherein the case (12) is arranged to translate against the bias in the proximal direction (P) relative to the chassis (2) into an advanced position thereby translating a second window (12.8) in the case (12) outwardly behind the fifth clip (2.10) thus allowing outward deflection so as to decouple the fifth clip (2.10) from the bl
