diff --git a/extern/storage-sealing/fsm.go b/extern/storage-sealing/fsm.go
index a765d2617..1ad2d7ec0 100644
--- a/extern/storage-sealing/fsm.go
+++ b/extern/storage-sealing/fsm.go
@@ -514,6 +514,8 @@ func planCommitting(events []statemachine.Event, state *SectorInfo) (uint64, err
 }
 
 func (m *Sealing) restartSectors(ctx context.Context) error {
+	defer m.startupWait.Done()
+
 	trackedSectors, err := m.ListSectors()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("loading sector list: %+v", err)
@@ -531,6 +533,7 @@ func (m *Sealing) restartSectors(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func (m *Sealing) ForceSectorState(ctx context.Context, id abi.SectorNumber, state SectorState) error {
+	m.startupWait.Wait()
 	return m.sectors.Send(id, SectorForceState{state})
 }
 
diff --git a/extern/storage-sealing/garbage.go b/extern/storage-sealing/garbage.go
index c8ec21a84..d429b5b43 100644
--- a/extern/storage-sealing/garbage.go
+++ b/extern/storage-sealing/garbage.go
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (m *Sealing) PledgeSector(ctx context.Context) (storage.SectorRef, error) {
+	m.startupWait.Wait()
+
 	m.inputLk.Lock()
 	defer m.inputLk.Unlock()
 
diff --git a/extern/storage-sealing/input.go b/extern/storage-sealing/input.go
index 44d2e8275..1ba8b4c2c 100644
--- a/extern/storage-sealing/input.go
+++ b/extern/storage-sealing/input.go
@@ -376,6 +376,8 @@ func (m *Sealing) updateInput(ctx context.Context, sp abi.RegisteredSealProof) e
 }
 
 func (m *Sealing) tryCreateDealSector(ctx context.Context, sp abi.RegisteredSealProof) error {
+	m.startupWait.Wait()
+
 	cfg, err := m.getConfig()
 	if err != nil {
 		return xerrors.Errorf("getting storage config: %w", err)
@@ -422,6 +424,8 @@ func (m *Sealing) createSector(ctx context.Context, cfg sealiface.Config, sp abi
 }
 
 func (m *Sealing) StartPacking(sid abi.SectorNumber) error {
+	m.startupWait.Wait()
+
 	return m.sectors.Send(uint64(sid), SectorStartPacking{})
 }
 
diff --git a/extern/storage-sealing/sealing.go b/extern/storage-sealing/sealing.go
index cfe4b9f90..ee29a724f 100644
--- a/extern/storage-sealing/sealing.go
+++ b/extern/storage-sealing/sealing.go
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ type Sealing struct {
 	feeCfg config.MinerFeeConfig
 	events Events
 
+	startupWait sync.WaitGroup
+
 	maddr address.Address
 
 	sealer  sectorstorage.SectorManager
@@ -161,6 +163,7 @@ func New(api SealingAPI, fc config.MinerFeeConfig, events Events, maddr address.
 			bySector: map[abi.SectorID]statSectorState{},
 		},
 	}
+	s.startupWait.Add(1)
 
 	s.sectors = statemachine.New(namespace.Wrap(ds, datastore.NewKey(SectorStorePrefix)), s, SectorInfo{})
 
@@ -188,10 +191,14 @@ func (m *Sealing) Stop(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func (m *Sealing) Remove(ctx context.Context, sid abi.SectorNumber) error {
+	m.startupWait.Wait()
+
 	return m.sectors.Send(uint64(sid), SectorRemove{})
 }
 
 func (m *Sealing) Terminate(ctx context.Context, sid abi.SectorNumber) error {
+	m.startupWait.Wait()
+
 	return m.sectors.Send(uint64(sid), SectorTerminate{})
 }