diff --git a/extern/storage-sealing/garbage.go b/extern/storage-sealing/garbage.go
index 722e3e9bc..398040e6e 100644
--- a/extern/storage-sealing/garbage.go
+++ b/extern/storage-sealing/garbage.go
@@ -4,40 +4,42 @@ import (
 	"context"
 
 	"golang.org/x/xerrors"
+
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/specs-storage/storage"
 )
 
-func (m *Sealing) PledgeSector(ctx context.Context) error {
+func (m *Sealing) PledgeSector(ctx context.Context) (storage.SectorRef, error) {
 	m.inputLk.Lock()
 	defer m.inputLk.Unlock()
 
 	cfg, err := m.getConfig()
 	if err != nil {
-		return xerrors.Errorf("getting config: %w", err)
+		return storage.SectorRef{}, xerrors.Errorf("getting config: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	if cfg.MaxSealingSectors > 0 {
 		if m.stats.curSealing() >= cfg.MaxSealingSectors {
-			return xerrors.Errorf("too many sectors sealing (curSealing: %d, max: %d)", m.stats.curSealing(), cfg.MaxSealingSectors)
+			return storage.SectorRef{}, xerrors.Errorf("too many sectors sealing (curSealing: %d, max: %d)", m.stats.curSealing(), cfg.MaxSealingSectors)
 		}
 	}
 
 	spt, err := m.currentSealProof(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
-		return xerrors.Errorf("getting seal proof type: %w", err)
+		return storage.SectorRef{}, xerrors.Errorf("getting seal proof type: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	sid, err := m.sc.Next()
 	if err != nil {
-		return xerrors.Errorf("generating sector number: %w", err)
+		return storage.SectorRef{}, xerrors.Errorf("generating sector number: %w", err)
 	}
 	sectorID := m.minerSector(spt, sid)
 	err = m.sealer.NewSector(ctx, sectorID)
 	if err != nil {
-		return xerrors.Errorf("notifying sealer of the new sector: %w", err)
+		return storage.SectorRef{}, xerrors.Errorf("notifying sealer of the new sector: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	log.Infof("Creating CC sector %d", sid)
-	return m.sectors.Send(uint64(sid), SectorStartCC{
+	return sectorID, m.sectors.Send(uint64(sid), SectorStartCC{
 		ID:         sid,
 		SectorType: spt,
 	})
diff --git a/node/impl/storminer.go b/node/impl/storminer.go
index 9ddcfb9b7..b9ecfb574 100644
--- a/node/impl/storminer.go
+++ b/node/impl/storminer.go
@@ -122,7 +122,29 @@ func (sm *StorageMinerAPI) ActorSectorSize(ctx context.Context, addr address.Add
 }
 
 func (sm *StorageMinerAPI) PledgeSector(ctx context.Context) error {
-	return sm.Miner.PledgeSector(ctx)
+	sr, err := sm.Miner.PledgeSector(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// wait for the sector to enter the Packing state
+	// TODO: instead of polling implement some pubsub-type thing in storagefsm
+	for {
+		info, err := sm.Miner.GetSectorInfo(sr.ID.Number)
+		if err != nil {
+			return xerrors.Errorf("getting pledged sector info: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		if info.State != sealing.UndefinedSectorState {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		select {
+		case <-time.After(10 * time.Millisecond):
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return ctx.Err()
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func (sm *StorageMinerAPI) SectorsStatus(ctx context.Context, sid abi.SectorNumber, showOnChainInfo bool) (api.SectorInfo, error) {
diff --git a/storage/sealing.go b/storage/sealing.go
index 6ec5a412a..8981c3738 100644
--- a/storage/sealing.go
+++ b/storage/sealing.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-address"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/abi"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/specs-storage/storage"
 
 	sealing "github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/extern/storage-sealing"
 )
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ func (m *Miner) GetSectorInfo(sid abi.SectorNumber) (sealing.SectorInfo, error)
 	return m.sealing.GetSectorInfo(sid)
 }
 
-func (m *Miner) PledgeSector(ctx context.Context) error {
+func (m *Miner) PledgeSector(ctx context.Context) (storage.SectorRef, error) {
 	return m.sealing.PledgeSector(ctx)
 }