diff --git a/signer/threshold_validator_test.go b/signer/threshold_validator_test.go
index aabe2473..ea5c6060 100644
--- a/signer/threshold_validator_test.go
+++ b/signer/threshold_validator_test.go
@@ -400,6 +400,8 @@ func testThresholdValidatorLeaderElection(t *testing.T, threshold, total uint8)
 
 		err := tv.LoadSignStateIfNecessary(testChainID)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		require.NoError(t, tv.Start(ctx))
 	}
 
 	quit := make(chan bool)