diff --git a/examples/server_async.py b/examples/server_async.py
index c5fec0853..291aa6eb0 100755
--- a/examples/server_async.py
+++ b/examples/server_async.py
@@ -160,7 +160,6 @@ async def run_async_server(args):
             # broadcast_enable=False,  # treat slave_id 0 as broadcast address,
             # timeout=1,  # waiting time for request to complete
             # TBD strict=True,  # use strict timing, t1.5 for Modbus RTU
-            # defer_start=False,  # Only define server do not activate
         )
     elif args.comm == "udp":
         address = ("127.0.0.1", args.port) if args.port else None
@@ -175,7 +174,6 @@ async def run_async_server(args):
             # broadcast_enable=False,  # treat slave_id 0 as broadcast address,
             # timeout=1,  # waiting time for request to complete
             # TBD strict=True,  # use strict timing, t1.5 for Modbus RTU
-            # defer_start=False,  # Only define server do not activate
         )
     elif args.comm == "serial":
         # socat -d -d PTY,link=/tmp/ptyp0,raw,echo=0,ispeed=9600
@@ -196,7 +194,6 @@ async def run_async_server(args):
             # ignore_missing_slaves=True,  # ignore request to a missing slave
             # broadcast_enable=False,  # treat slave_id 0 as broadcast address,
             # strict=True,  # use strict timing, t1.5 for Modbus RTU
-            # defer_start=False,  # Only define server do not activate
         )
     elif args.comm == "tls":
         address = ("", args.port) if args.port else None
@@ -226,7 +223,6 @@ async def run_async_server(args):
             # broadcast_enable=False,  # treat slave_id 0 as broadcast address,
             # timeout=1,  # waiting time for request to complete
             # TBD strict=True,  # use strict timing, t1.5 for Modbus RTU
-            defer_start=False,  # Only define server do not activate
         )
     return server
 
diff --git a/examples/server_sync.py b/examples/server_sync.py
index 7d70c6745..ac21f6490 100755
--- a/examples/server_sync.py
+++ b/examples/server_sync.py
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ def run_sync_server(args):
             # broadcast_enable=False,  # treat slave_id 0 as broadcast address,
             # timeout=1,  # waiting time for request to complete
             # TBD strict=True,  # use strict timing, t1.5 for Modbus RTU
-            # defer_start=False,  # Only define server do not activate
         )
     elif args.comm == "udp":
         address = ("", args.port) if args.port else None
@@ -88,7 +87,6 @@ def run_sync_server(args):
             # broadcast_enable=False,  # treat slave_id 0 as broadcast address,
             # timeout=1,  # waiting time for request to complete
             # TBD strict=True,  # use strict timing, t1.5 for Modbus RTU
-            # defer_start=False,  # Only define server do not activate
         )
     elif args.comm == "serial":
         # socat -d -d PTY,link=/tmp/ptyp0,raw,echo=0,ispeed=9600
@@ -109,7 +107,6 @@ def run_sync_server(args):
             # ignore_missing_slaves=True,  # ignore request to a missing slave
             # broadcast_enable=False,  # treat slave_id 0 as broadcast address,
             # strict=True,  # use strict timing, t1.5 for Modbus RTU
-            # defer_start=False,  # Only define server do not activate
         )
     elif args.comm == "tls":
         address = ("", args.port) if args.port else None
@@ -139,7 +136,6 @@ def run_sync_server(args):
             # broadcast_enable=False,  # treat slave_id 0 as broadcast address,
             # timeout=1,  # waiting time for request to complete
             # TBD strict=True,  # use strict timing, t1.5 for Modbus RTU
-            # defer_start=False,  # Only define server do not activate
         )
     return server
 
diff --git a/pymodbus/server/async_io.py b/pymodbus/server/async_io.py
index 68f76e971..babf3f417 100644
--- a/pymodbus/server/async_io.py
+++ b/pymodbus/server/async_io.py
@@ -593,7 +593,6 @@ def __init__(
         address=None,
         handler=None,
         allow_reuse_address=False,
-        defer_start=False,
         backlog=20,
         **kwargs,
     ):
@@ -648,7 +647,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.factory_parms = {
             "reuse_address": allow_reuse_address,
             "backlog": backlog,
-            "start_serving": not defer_start,
+            "start_serving": True,
         }
 
     async def serve_forever(self):
@@ -714,7 +713,6 @@ def __init__(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
         reqclicert=False,
         handler=None,
         allow_reuse_address=False,
-        defer_start=False,
         backlog=20,
         **kwargs,
     ):
@@ -755,7 +753,6 @@ def __init__(  # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
             address=address,
             handler=handler,
             allow_reuse_address=allow_reuse_address,
-            defer_start=defer_start,
             backlog=backlog,
             **kwargs,
         )
@@ -778,7 +775,6 @@ def __init__(
         identity=None,
         address=None,
         handler=None,
-        defer_start=False,
         backlog=20,
         **kwargs,
     ):
@@ -801,7 +797,6 @@ def __init__(
                             manipulating the response
         """
         # TO BE REMOVED:
-        self.defer_start = defer_start
         self.backlog = backlog
         # ----------------
         self.loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
diff --git a/pymodbus/server/reactive/main.py b/pymodbus/server/reactive/main.py
index 3f2b2261d..9c8b5942c 100644
--- a/pymodbus/server/reactive/main.py
+++ b/pymodbus/server/reactive/main.py
@@ -509,7 +509,6 @@ def factory(  # pylint: disable=dangerous-default-value,too-many-arguments
                 framer=framer,
                 identity=identity,
                 address=(host, modbus_port),
-                defer_start=False,
                 **kwargs,
             )
         return ReactiveServer(host, web_port, server)
diff --git a/test/test_server_asyncio.py b/test/test_server_asyncio.py
index 65ee4faef..2f2be1643 100755
--- a/test/test_server_asyncio.py
+++ b/test/test_server_asyncio.py
@@ -139,13 +139,12 @@ def handle_task(self, result):
             result = result.result()
 
     async def start_server(
-        self, do_forever=True, do_defer=True, do_tls=False, do_udp=False, do_ident=False
+        self, do_forever=True, do_tls=False, do_udp=False, do_ident=False
     ):
         """Handle setup and control of tcp server."""
         args = {
             "context": self.context,
             "address": SERV_ADDR,
-            "defer_start": do_defer,
         }
         if do_ident:
             args["identity"] = self.identity