diff --git a/src/connector.c b/src/connector.c
index 36911e5f..73ad62c3 100644
--- a/src/connector.c
+++ b/src/connector.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ struct connector_instance {
 	proc_instance_t *pi;
 	int serverfd;
 	int nfds;
+	bool accept;
 };
 
 typedef struct connector_instance conn_instance_t;
@@ -93,6 +94,8 @@ void *acceptor(void *arg)
 retry:
 	client = ckzalloc(sizeof(client_instance_t));
 	client->address_len = sizeof(client->address);
+	while (!ci->accept)
+		sleep(1);
 	fd = accept(ci->serverfd, &client->address, &client->address_len);
 	if (unlikely(fd < 0)) {
 		LOGERR("Failed to accept on socket %d in acceptor", ci->serverfd);
@@ -480,6 +483,7 @@ retry:
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	dealloc(buf);
 	buf = recv_unix_msg(sockd);
 	if (!buf) {
 		LOGWARNING("Failed to get message in connector_loop");
@@ -490,6 +494,16 @@ retry:
 		send_unix_msg(sockd, "pong");
 		goto retry;
 	}
+	if (!strncasecmp(buf, "accept", 6)) {
+		LOGDEBUG("Connector received accept signal");
+		ci->accept = true;
+		goto retry;
+	}
+	if (!strncasecmp(buf, "reject", 6)) {
+		LOGDEBUG("Connector received reject signal");
+		ci->accept = false;
+		goto retry;
+	}
 
 	LOGDEBUG("Connector received message: %s", buf);
 	if (!strncasecmp(buf, "shutdown", 8))
diff --git a/src/generator.c b/src/generator.c
index aa1ef93a..cee2ecb9 100644
--- a/src/generator.c
+++ b/src/generator.c
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ retry:
 	cs = &alive->cs;
 	LOGINFO("Connected to live server %s:%s", cs->url, cs->port);
 out:
+	send_proc(ckp->connector, alive ? "accept" : "reject");
 	return alive;
 }
 
@@ -1159,6 +1160,7 @@ retry:
 	cond_init(&alive->psend_cond);
 	create_pthread(&alive->pth_psend, proxy_send, alive);
 out:
+	send_proc(ckp->connector, alive ? "accept" : "reject");
 	return alive;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/stratifier.c b/src/stratifier.c
index 92148ece..5caba009 100644
--- a/src/stratifier.c
+++ b/src/stratifier.c
@@ -1996,7 +1996,6 @@ static void *stratum_receiver(void *arg)
 
 	rename_proc("sreceiver");
 
-	sleep(1);
 	while (42) {
 		stratum_instance_t *instance;
 
@@ -2442,6 +2441,10 @@ int stratifier(proc_instance_t *pi)
 	cond_init(&stratum_send_cond);
 	create_pthread(&pth_stratum_sender, stratum_sender, ckp);
 
+	mutex_init(&stratum_recv_lock);
+	cond_init(&stratum_recv_cond);
+	create_pthread(&pth_stratum_receiver, stratum_receiver, ckp);
+
 	mutex_init(&sshare_lock);
 	cond_init(&sshare_cond);
 	create_pthread(&pth_share_processer, share_processor, ckp);
@@ -2461,12 +2464,6 @@ int stratifier(proc_instance_t *pi)
 
 	load_users(ckp);
 
-	/* Start the receiver last to only process requests once all structures
-	 * are set up. */
-	mutex_init(&stratum_recv_lock);
-	cond_init(&stratum_recv_cond);
-	create_pthread(&pth_stratum_receiver, stratum_receiver, ckp);
-
 	ret = stratum_loop(ckp, pi);
 out:
 	return process_exit(ckp, pi, ret);