diff --git a/src/Main.cxx b/src/Main.cxx
index ba7827bcd..71d9a2b4a 100644
--- a/src/Main.cxx
+++ b/src/Main.cxx
@@ -329,6 +329,9 @@ MainConfigured(const CommandLineOptions &options,
 	Instance instance;
 	global_instance = &instance;
 
+	instance.io_thread.Start();
+	instance.rtio_thread.Start();
+
 #ifdef ENABLE_NEIGHBOR_PLUGINS
 	instance.neighbors = std::make_unique<NeighborGlue>();
 	instance.neighbors->Init(raw_config,
@@ -421,9 +424,6 @@ MainConfigured(const CommandLineOptions &options,
 	};
 #endif
 
-	instance.io_thread.Start();
-	instance.rtio_thread.Start();
-
 #ifdef ENABLE_NEIGHBOR_PLUGINS
 	if (instance.neighbors != nullptr)
 		instance.neighbors->Open();