diff --git a/microceph/ceph/start.go b/microceph/ceph/start.go
index 218f43c4..c934c6f9 100644
--- a/microceph/ceph/start.go
+++ b/microceph/ceph/start.go
@@ -148,6 +148,8 @@ func PostRefresh() error {
 
 // Start is run on daemon startup.
 func Start(ctx context.Context, s interfaces.StateInterface) error {
+	// flag: are we on the first run?
+	first := true
 	// Start background loop to refresh the config every minute if needed.
 	go func() {
 		oldMonitors := []string{}
@@ -182,8 +184,8 @@ func Start(ctx context.Context, s interfaces.StateInterface) error {
 				continue
 			}
 
-			// Compare to the previous list.
-			if reflect.DeepEqual(oldMonitors, monitors) {
+			// Check if we need to update
+			if !first || reflect.DeepEqual(oldMonitors, monitors) {
 				logger.Debugf("start: monitors unchanged, sleeping: %v", monitors)
 				time.Sleep(time.Minute)
 				continue
@@ -196,6 +198,7 @@ func Start(ctx context.Context, s interfaces.StateInterface) error {
 				continue
 			}
 			logger.Debug("start: updated config, sleeping")
+			first = false // for subsequent runs
 			oldMonitors = monitors
 			time.Sleep(time.Minute)
 		}
diff --git a/snap/snapcraft.yaml b/snap/snapcraft.yaml
index dcd37111..c40262e8 100644
--- a/snap/snapcraft.yaml
+++ b/snap/snapcraft.yaml
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ apps:
     command: commands/mds.start
     daemon: simple
     install-mode: disable
+    after:
+      - daemon
     plugs:
       - network
       - network-bind
@@ -68,6 +70,8 @@ apps:
     command: commands/mon.start
     daemon: simple
     install-mode: disable
+    after:
+      - daemon
     plugs:
       - hardware-observe
       - network
@@ -76,6 +80,8 @@ apps:
     command: commands/mgr.start
     daemon: simple
     install-mode: disable
+    after:
+      - daemon
     plugs:
       - network
       - network-bind
@@ -86,6 +92,8 @@ apps:
     install-mode: disable
     stop-mode: sigterm-all
     stop-timeout: 5m
+    after:
+      - daemon
     plugs:
       - block-devices
       - dm-crypt
@@ -98,6 +106,8 @@ apps:
     command: commands/rgw.start
     daemon: simple
     install-mode: disable
+    after:
+      - daemon
     plugs:
       - hardware-observe
       - network
@@ -107,6 +117,8 @@ apps:
     command: commands/rbd-mirror.start
     daemon: simple
     install-mode: disable
+    after:
+      - daemon
     plugs:
       - network
       - network-bind
diff --git a/snapcraft/commands/common b/snapcraft/commands/common
index 3c2f3c59..ca90a852 100644
--- a/snapcraft/commands/common
+++ b/snapcraft/commands/common
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ wait_for_config() {
   local max_attempts=300
   local attempt=0
 
+  sleep 1  # give microcephd startup a headstart
   while [ $attempt -lt $max_attempts ]; do
     if [ -f "${confpath}" ]; then
       if grep -q "${search_str}" "${confpath}"; then