diff --git a/lightningd/chaintopology.c b/lightningd/chaintopology.c
index b744852cb..0999f31f1 100644
--- a/lightningd/chaintopology.c
+++ b/lightningd/chaintopology.c
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ static void try_extend_tip(struct chain_topology *topo);
 
 static void next_topology_timer(struct chain_topology *topo)
 {
-	if (topo->startup) {
-		topo->startup = false;
-		io_break(topo);
-	}
 	/* This takes care of its own lifetime. */
 	notleak(new_reltimer(topo->timers, topo, topo->poll_time,
 			     try_extend_tip, topo));
@@ -216,7 +212,8 @@ static void destroy_outgoing_tx(struct outgoing_tx *otx)
 
 static void clear_otx_peer(struct peer *peer, struct outgoing_tx *otx)
 {
-	assert(otx->peer == peer);
+	if (otx->peer != peer)
+		fatal("peer %p, otx %p has peer %p", peer, otx, otx->peer);
 	otx->peer = NULL;
 }
 
@@ -454,7 +451,7 @@ static void init_topo(struct bitcoind *bitcoind,
 	block_map_add(&topo->block_map, topo->root);
 	topo->tip = topo->prev_tip = topo->root;
 
-	try_extend_tip(topo);
+	io_break(topo);
 }
 
 static void get_init_block(struct bitcoind *bitcoind,
@@ -710,7 +707,6 @@ void setup_topology(struct chain_topology *topo,
 		    struct timers *timers,
 		    struct timerel poll_time, u32 first_peer_block)
 {
-	topo->startup = true;
 	memset(&topo->feerate, 0, sizeof(topo->feerate));
 	topo->timers = timers;
 	topo->poll_time = poll_time;
@@ -728,7 +724,11 @@ void setup_topology(struct chain_topology *topo,
 	/* Begin fee estimation. */
 	start_fee_estimate(topo);
 
-	/* Once it gets topology, it calls io_break() and we return. */
+	/* Once it gets initial block, it calls io_break() and we return. */
 	io_loop(NULL, NULL);
-	assert(!topo->startup);
+}
+
+void begin_topology(struct chain_topology *topo)
+{
+	try_extend_tip(topo);
 }
diff --git a/lightningd/chaintopology.h b/lightningd/chaintopology.h
index 29b908623..802ef63ff 100644
--- a/lightningd/chaintopology.h
+++ b/lightningd/chaintopology.h
@@ -160,6 +160,8 @@ void setup_topology(struct chain_topology *topology,
 		    struct timers *timers,
 		    struct timerel poll_time, u32 first_peer_block);
 
+void begin_topology(struct chain_topology *topo);
+
 struct txlocator *locate_tx(const void *ctx, const struct chain_topology *topo, const struct bitcoin_txid *txid);
 
 void notify_new_block(struct lightningd *ld, unsigned int height);
diff --git a/lightningd/lightningd.c b/lightningd/lightningd.c
index 335d9cde7..d678e8845 100644
--- a/lightningd/lightningd.c
+++ b/lightningd/lightningd.c
@@ -310,6 +310,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		 type_to_string(ltmp, struct pubkey, &ld->id),
 		 ld->alias, tal_hex(ltmp, ld->rgb), version());
 
+	/* Start the peers. */
+	activate_peers(ld);
+
+	/* Now kick off topology update, now peers have watches. */
+	begin_topology(ld->topology);
+
 	for (;;) {
 		struct timer *expired;
 		void *v = io_loop(&ld->timers, &expired);
diff --git a/lightningd/peer_control.c b/lightningd/peer_control.c
index c0677fd13..5da5fee2c 100644
--- a/lightningd/peer_control.c
+++ b/lightningd/peer_control.c
@@ -2714,6 +2714,38 @@ const char *peer_state_name(enum peer_state state)
 	return "unknown";
 }
 
+static void activate_peer(struct peer *peer)
+{
+	assert(!peer->owner);
+
+	switch (peer->state) {
+	case UNINITIALIZED:
+		abort();
+
+	case OPENINGD:
+	case CHANNELD_AWAITING_LOCKIN:
+	case CHANNELD_NORMAL:
+	case CHANNELD_SHUTTING_DOWN:
+	case CLOSINGD_SIGEXCHANGE:
+	case CLOSINGD_COMPLETE:
+	case FUNDING_SPEND_SEEN:
+	case ONCHAIND_CHEATED:
+	case ONCHAIND_THEIR_UNILATERAL:
+	case ONCHAIND_OUR_UNILATERAL:
+	case ONCHAIND_MUTUAL:
+		log_broken(peer->log, "FIXME: Implement activate_peer(%s)",
+			   peer_state_name(peer->state));
+	}
+}
+
+void activate_peers(struct lightningd *ld)
+{
+	struct peer *p;
+
+	list_for_each(&ld->peers, p, list)
+		activate_peer(p);
+}
+
 #if DEVELOPER
 static void json_sign_last_tx(struct command *cmd,
 			      const char *buffer, const jsmntok_t *params)
diff --git a/lightningd/peer_control.h b/lightningd/peer_control.h
index 663949cf2..548af4932 100644
--- a/lightningd/peer_control.h
+++ b/lightningd/peer_control.h
@@ -220,5 +220,8 @@ void peer_set_condition(struct peer *peer, enum peer_state oldstate,
 			enum peer_state state);
 void setup_listeners(struct lightningd *ld);
 
+/* We've loaded peers from database, set them going. */
+void activate_peers(struct lightningd *ld);
+
 void free_htlcs(struct lightningd *ld, const struct peer *peer);
 #endif /* LIGHTNING_LIGHTNINGD_PEER_CONTROL_H */
diff --git a/lightningd/test/run-find_my_path.c b/lightningd/test/run-find_my_path.c
index 2bcb8e5c6..d1ead9a37 100644
--- a/lightningd/test/run-find_my_path.c
+++ b/lightningd/test/run-find_my_path.c
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ int unused_main(int argc, char *argv[]);
 #include "../lightningd.c"
 
 /* AUTOGENERATED MOCKS START */
+/* Generated stub for activate_peers */
+void activate_peers(struct lightningd *ld UNNEEDED)
+{ fprintf(stderr, "activate_peers called!\n"); abort(); }
+/* Generated stub for begin_topology */
+void begin_topology(struct chain_topology *topo UNNEEDED)
+{ fprintf(stderr, "begin_topology called!\n"); abort(); }
 /* Generated stub for crashlog_activate */
 void crashlog_activate(const char *argv0 UNNEEDED, struct log *log UNNEEDED)
 { fprintf(stderr, "crashlog_activate called!\n"); abort(); }