diff --git a/eth/catalyst/api.go b/eth/catalyst/api.go
index 30b1d4331..f6c7ab09c 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/api.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/api.go
@@ -135,6 +135,13 @@ type ConsensusAPI struct {
 // NewConsensusAPI creates a new consensus api for the given backend.
 // The underlying blockchain needs to have a valid terminal total difficulty set.
 func NewConsensusAPI(eth *eth.Ethereum) *ConsensusAPI {
+	api := newConsensusAPIWithoutHeartbeat(eth)
+	go api.heartbeat()
+	return api
+}
+
+// newConsensusAPIWithoutHeartbeat creates a new consensus api for the SimulatedBeacon Node.
+func newConsensusAPIWithoutHeartbeat(eth *eth.Ethereum) *ConsensusAPI {
 	if eth.BlockChain().Config().TerminalTotalDifficulty == nil {
 		log.Warn("Engine API started but chain not configured for merge yet")
 	}
@@ -146,8 +153,6 @@ func NewConsensusAPI(eth *eth.Ethereum) *ConsensusAPI {
 		invalidTipsets:    make(map[common.Hash]*types.Header),
 	}
 	eth.Downloader().SetBadBlockCallback(api.setInvalidAncestor)
-	go api.heartbeat()
-
 	return api
 }
 
diff --git a/eth/catalyst/simulated_beacon.go b/eth/catalyst/simulated_beacon.go
index e319264f4..dc623d48e 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/simulated_beacon.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/simulated_beacon.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func NewSimulatedBeacon(period uint64, eth *eth.Ethereum) (*SimulatedBeacon, err
 		SafeBlockHash:      block.Hash(),
 		FinalizedBlockHash: block.Hash(),
 	}
-	engineAPI := NewConsensusAPI(eth)
+	engineAPI := newConsensusAPIWithoutHeartbeat(eth)
 
 	// if genesis block, send forkchoiceUpdated to trigger transition to PoS
 	if block.Number.Sign() == 0 {
diff --git a/eth/catalyst/tester.go b/eth/catalyst/tester.go
index c4eafd30d..f34a3f79a 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/tester.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/tester.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ type FullSyncTester struct {
 // stack for launching and stopping the service controlled by node.
 func RegisterFullSyncTester(stack *node.Node, backend *eth.Ethereum, block *types.Block) (*FullSyncTester, error) {
 	cl := &FullSyncTester{
-		api:    NewConsensusAPI(backend),
+		api:    newConsensusAPIWithoutHeartbeat(backend),
 		block:  block,
 		closed: make(chan struct{}),
 	}