diff --git a/arbnode/node.go b/arbnode/node.go
index d7b1d83ba3..e52a698e4e 100644
--- a/arbnode/node.go
+++ b/arbnode/node.go
@@ -786,8 +786,23 @@ func (n *Node) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error starting inbox reader: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
+	// must init broadcast server before trying to sequence anything
+	if n.BroadcastServer != nil {
+		err = n.BroadcastServer.Start(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("error starting feed broadcast server: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
 	if n.SeqCoordinator != nil {
 		n.SeqCoordinator.Start(ctx)
+	} else {
+		if n.DelayedSequencer != nil {
+			err := n.DelayedSequencer.ForceSequenceDelayed(ctx)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("error initially sequencing delayed instructions: %w", err)
+			}
+		}
+		n.Execution.Activate()
 	}
 	if n.MaintenanceRunner != nil {
 		n.MaintenanceRunner.Start(ctx)
@@ -834,12 +849,6 @@ func (n *Node) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 	if n.L1Reader != nil {
 		n.L1Reader.Start(ctx)
 	}
-	if n.BroadcastServer != nil {
-		err = n.BroadcastServer.Start(ctx)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("error starting feed broadcast server: %w", err)
-		}
-	}
 	if n.BroadcastClients != nil {
 		go func() {
 			if n.InboxReader != nil {
diff --git a/arbnode/seq_coordinator.go b/arbnode/seq_coordinator.go
index 1e8405e01a..cb6f4fe502 100644
--- a/arbnode/seq_coordinator.go
+++ b/arbnode/seq_coordinator.go
@@ -156,9 +156,6 @@ func NewSeqCoordinator(
 		config:           config,
 		signer:           signer,
 	}
-	if sequencer != nil {
-		sequencer.Pause()
-	}
 	streamer.SetSeqCoordinator(coordinator)
 	return coordinator, nil
 }
diff --git a/execution/gethexec/sequencer.go b/execution/gethexec/sequencer.go
index e1b55b6ce2..51e946eedf 100644
--- a/execution/gethexec/sequencer.go
+++ b/execution/gethexec/sequencer.go
@@ -322,6 +322,7 @@ func NewSequencer(execEngine *ExecutionEngine, l1Reader *headerreader.HeaderRead
 		containers.NewLruCacheWithOnEvict(config.NonceCacheSize, s.onNonceFailureEvict),
 		func() time.Duration { return configFetcher().NonceFailureCacheExpiry },
 	}
+	s.Pause()
 	execEngine.EnableReorgSequencing()
 	return s, nil
 }