diff --git a/go/characters/appEventListener.go b/go/characters/appEventListener.go
index 02d87b1b..827e8bcc 100644
--- a/go/characters/appEventListener.go
+++ b/go/characters/appEventListener.go
@@ -11,13 +11,14 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 )
 
-func AppEventListener(gcd *gothings.GrandCentralDispatcher) {
+func AppEventListener(gcd *gothings.GrandCentralDispatcher, subscribed chan bool) {
 	q := event.NewEventQueue(1000)
 	the.AppBus.Subscribe(event.NewPeer, q.EventChannel)
 	the.AppBus.Subscribe(event.PeerError, q.EventChannel)
 	the.AppBus.Subscribe(event.AppError, q.EventChannel)
 	the.AppBus.Subscribe(event.ACNStatus, q.EventChannel)
 	the.AppBus.Subscribe(event.ReloadDone, q.EventChannel)
+	subscribed <- true
 
 	for {
 		e := q.Next()
@@ -68,6 +69,11 @@ func AppEventListener(gcd *gothings.GrandCentralDispatcher) {
 			the.Peer = the.CwtchApp.GetPeer(onion)
 			the.EventBus = the.CwtchApp.GetEventBus(onion)
 
+			incSubscribed := make(chan bool)
+			go IncomingListener(&gcd.UIState, incSubscribed)
+			<-incSubscribed
+			go PresencePoller(&gcd.UIState)
+
 			gcd.UpdateMyProfile(the.Peer.GetProfile().Name, the.Peer.GetProfile().Onion, cwutil.RandomProfileImage(the.Peer.GetProfile().Onion))
 			if e.Data[event.Status] != "running" {
 				the.CwtchApp.LaunchPeers()
@@ -110,8 +116,6 @@ func AppEventListener(gcd *gothings.GrandCentralDispatcher) {
 					})
 				}
 			}
-			go IncomingListener(&gcd.UIState)
-			go PresencePoller(&gcd.UIState)
 
 			// load ui preferences
 			gcd.RequestSettings()
diff --git a/go/characters/incominglistener.go b/go/characters/incominglistener.go
index 188fdb53..14ae72a3 100644
--- a/go/characters/incominglistener.go
+++ b/go/characters/incominglistener.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
-func IncomingListener(uiState *gothings.InterfaceState) {
+func IncomingListener(uiState *gothings.InterfaceState, subscribed chan bool) {
 	q := event.NewEventQueue(1000)
 	the.EventBus.Subscribe(event.NewMessageFromPeer, q.EventChannel)
 	the.EventBus.Subscribe(event.NewMessageFromGroup, q.EventChannel)
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ func IncomingListener(uiState *gothings.InterfaceState) {
 	the.EventBus.Subscribe(event.JoinServer, q.EventChannel)
 	the.EventBus.Subscribe(event.ServerStateChange, q.EventChannel)
 	the.EventBus.Subscribe(event.PeerStateChange, q.EventChannel)
+	subscribed <- true
 
 	for {
 		e := q.Next()
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 175fedd9..c353b060 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -229,7 +229,9 @@ func loadNetworkingAndFiles(gcd *gothings.GrandCentralDispatcher, service bool,
 
 	if !service {
 		the.AppBus = the.CwtchApp.GetPrimaryBus()
-		go characters.AppEventListener(gcd)
+		subscribed := make(chan bool)
+		go characters.AppEventListener(gcd, subscribed)
+		<-subscribed
 	}
 
 	if !service && !clientUI {