diff --git a/dot/node.go b/dot/node.go
index c20bcf7e7b..efb4860b43 100644
--- a/dot/node.go
+++ b/dot/node.go
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ func NewNode(cfg *Config, ks *keystore.GlobalKeystore, stopFunc func()) (*Node,
 	nodeSrvcs = append(nodeSrvcs, sysSrvc)
 
 	// check if rpc service is enabled
-	if enabled := cfg.RPC.Enabled; enabled {
+	if enabled := cfg.RPC.Enabled || cfg.RPC.WS; enabled {
 		rpcSrvc := createRPCService(cfg, stateSrvc, coreSrvc, networkSrvc, bp, rt, sysSrvc)
 		nodeSrvcs = append(nodeSrvcs, rpcSrvc)
 	} else {