diff --git a/mutiny-core/src/node.rs b/mutiny-core/src/node.rs
index c7c32b149..c32242033 100644
--- a/mutiny-core/src/node.rs
+++ b/mutiny-core/src/node.rs
@@ -1446,11 +1446,15 @@ impl<S: MutinyStorage> Node<S> {
             if self.stop.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
                 return Err(MutinyError::NotRunning);
             }
-            if !self.channel_manager.list_usable_channels().is_empty()
-                && self.has_done_initial_sync.load(Ordering::SeqCst)
-            {
+            let has_usable = !self.channel_manager.list_usable_channels().is_empty();
+            let init = self.has_done_initial_sync.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+            if has_usable && init {
                 break;
             }
+            log_trace!(
+                self.logger,
+                "waiting for channel to be usable, has usable channels: {has_usable} finished init sync:{init}"
+            );
             sleep(1_000).await;
         }
 
diff --git a/mutiny-core/src/nodemanager.rs b/mutiny-core/src/nodemanager.rs
index 53492e18f..d723c1889 100644
--- a/mutiny-core/src/nodemanager.rs
+++ b/mutiny-core/src/nodemanager.rs
@@ -377,6 +377,8 @@ impl<S: MutinyStorage> NodeManagerBuilder<S> {
             start.elapsed().as_millis()
         );
 
+        let has_done_initial_ldk_sync = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+
         let nodes = if c.safe_mode {
             // If safe mode is enabled, we don't start any nodes
             log_warn!(logger, "Safe mode enabled, not starting any nodes");
@@ -404,6 +406,7 @@ impl<S: MutinyStorage> NodeManagerBuilder<S> {
                     .with_fee_estimator(fee_estimator.clone())
                     .with_wallet(wallet.clone())
                     .with_esplora(esplora.clone())
+                    .with_initial_sync(has_done_initial_ldk_sync.clone())
                     .with_network(c.network);
                 node_builder.with_logger(logger.clone());
 
@@ -491,7 +494,7 @@ impl<S: MutinyStorage> NodeManagerBuilder<S> {
             logger,
             do_not_connect_peers: c.do_not_connect_peers,
             safe_mode: c.safe_mode,
-            has_done_initial_ldk_sync: Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false)),
+            has_done_initial_ldk_sync,
         };
 
         Ok(nm)