diff --git a/modules/route-proxy/cmd/route-provider/main.go b/modules/route-proxy/cmd/route-provider/main.go
index 8887ed6f..a00a7090 100644
--- a/modules/route-proxy/cmd/route-provider/main.go
+++ b/modules/route-proxy/cmd/route-provider/main.go
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ func main() {
 	} else {
 		p := newProvider(node, provider.StateBus(ModuleName), say)
 		go func() {
+			// The helper's watches go through the runtime's channel, which Serve holds: one asked before it does is
+			// refused ("before Serve"), Run returns and the helper stays stopped until the process restarts.
+			<-stdio.Served()
 			if err := p.Run(context.Background()); err != nil {
 				say("the provider helper stopped: %v", err)
 			}