diff --git a/extern/storage-sealing/fsm.go b/extern/storage-sealing/fsm.go
index e899701cc2a..359c49eb329 100644
--- a/extern/storage-sealing/fsm.go
+++ b/extern/storage-sealing/fsm.go
@@ -522,6 +522,8 @@ 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)
@@ -539,6 +541,7 @@ 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 c8ec21a84d8..d429b5b438d 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 bf66382d370..4a698ea1d12 100644
--- a/extern/storage-sealing/input.go
+++ b/extern/storage-sealing/input.go
@@ -394,6 +394,7 @@ 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()
 	if m.creating != nil {
 		return nil // new sector is being created right now
 	}
@@ -446,7 +447,9 @@ func (m *Sealing) createSector(ctx context.Context, cfg sealiface.Config, sp abi
 }
 
 func (m *Sealing) StartPacking(sid abi.SectorNumber) error {
+	m.startupWait.Wait()
 	log.Infow("starting to seal deal sector", "sector", sid, "trigger", "user")
+
 	return m.sectors.Send(uint64(sid), SectorStartPacking{})
 }
 
diff --git a/extern/storage-sealing/sealing.go b/extern/storage-sealing/sealing.go
index 2d53223dbff..2019aa131b2 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
@@ -162,6 +164,7 @@ 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{})
 
@@ -189,10 +192,14 @@ 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{})
 }