diff --git a/packages/bitcore-node/src/services/p2p.ts b/packages/bitcore-node/src/services/p2p.ts
index 9457817c91c..7eb201a3da6 100644
--- a/packages/bitcore-node/src/services/p2p.ts
+++ b/packages/bitcore-node/src/services/p2p.ts
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ export class P2pWorker {
   }
 
   async connect() {
+    this.setupListeners();
     this.pool.connect();
     this.connectInterval = setInterval(this.pool.connect.bind(this.pool), 5000);
     return new Promise<void>(resolve => {
@@ -446,7 +447,6 @@ export class P2pWorker {
 
   async start() {
     logger.debug(`Started worker for chain ${this.chain}`);
-    this.setupListeners();
     await this.connect();
     this.registerSyncingNode();
   }
diff --git a/packages/bitcore-node/test/verification/db-repair.ts b/packages/bitcore-node/test/verification/db-repair.ts
index 502879ad318..48d177aa861 100755
--- a/packages/bitcore-node/test/verification/db-repair.ts
+++ b/packages/bitcore-node/test/verification/db-repair.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ import { BlockStorage } from '../../src/models/block';
   await Storage.start();
   const chainConfig = Config.chainConfig({ chain, network });
   const worker = new P2pWorker({ chain, network, chainConfig });
-  await worker.start();
+  await worker.connect();
+
   const handleRepair = async data => {
     switch (data.type) {
       case 'DUPE_COIN':