diff --git a/src/Proto.Cluster/Cluster.cs b/src/Proto.Cluster/Cluster.cs
index 2a5f7140e2..83cf7d952d 100644
--- a/src/Proto.Cluster/Cluster.cs
+++ b/src/Proto.Cluster/Cluster.cs
@@ -164,9 +164,10 @@ private void SubscribeToTopologyEvents() =>
     /// </summary>
     public async Task StartMemberAsync()
     {
+        await Gossip.StartGossipActorAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
         await BeginStartAsync(false).ConfigureAwait(false);
         //gossiper must be started whenever any topology events starts flowing
-        await Gossip.StartAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+        await Gossip.StartgossipLoopAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
         MemberList.InitializeTopologyConsensus();
         await Provider.StartMemberAsync(this).ConfigureAwait(false);
         Logger.LogInformation("Started as cluster member");
diff --git a/src/Proto.Cluster/Gossip/Gossiper.cs b/src/Proto.Cluster/Gossip/Gossiper.cs
index 096e53f5a6..77bbd1081f 100644
--- a/src/Proto.Cluster/Gossip/Gossiper.cs
+++ b/src/Proto.Cluster/Gossip/Gossiper.cs
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ public class Gossiper
 {
     public const string GossipActorName = "$gossip";
 
+#pragma warning disable CS0618 // Type or member is obsolete
     private static readonly ILogger Logger = Log.CreateLogger<Gossiper>();
+#pragma warning restore CS0618 // Type or member is obsolete
     private readonly Cluster _cluster;
     private readonly IRootContext _context;
     private PID _pid = null!;
@@ -143,6 +145,7 @@ public void SetState(string key, IMessage value)
 
         if (_pid == null)
         {
+            Logger.LogError("Gossiper is not started, cannot set state");
             return;
         }
 
@@ -178,7 +181,7 @@ public async Task SetStateAsync(string key, IMessage value)
         }
     }
 
-    internal Task StartAsync()
+    internal Task StartGossipActorAsync()
     {
         var props = Props.FromProducer(() => new GossipActor(
             _cluster.System,
@@ -195,6 +198,13 @@ internal Task StartAsync()
             tmp.Left.Clear();
             _context.Send(_pid, tmp);
         });
+        
+        return Task.CompletedTask;
+    }
+
+    internal Task StartgossipLoopAsync()
+    {
+
         Logger.LogInformation("Started Cluster Gossip");
         _ = SafeTask.Run(GossipLoop);