diff --git a/service/status/module.go b/service/status/module.go
index 77ec6716..1d94d19d 100644
--- a/service/status/module.go
+++ b/service/status/module.go
@@ -35,10 +35,6 @@ func (s *Status) Manager() *mgr.Manager {
 
 // Start starts the module.
 func (s *Status) Start() error {
-	if err := s.setupRuntimeProvider(); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	s.mgr.Go("status publisher", s.statusPublisher)
 
 	s.instance.NetEnv().EventOnlineStatusChange.AddCallback("update online status in system status",
@@ -67,6 +63,14 @@ func (s *Status) Stop() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (s *Status) prep() error {
+	// register status provider as soon as possible
+	if err := s.setupRuntimeProvider(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // AddToDebugInfo adds the system status to the given debug.Info.
 func AddToDebugInfo(di *debug.Info) {
 	di.AddSection(
@@ -96,6 +100,10 @@ func New(instance instance) (*Status, error) {
 		notifications: make(map[string]map[string]*notifications.Notification),
 	}
 
+	if err := module.prep(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	return module, nil
 }