diff --git a/protocol/blockfetch/client.go b/protocol/blockfetch/client.go
index c1ac6767..bf83807c 100644
--- a/protocol/blockfetch/client.go
+++ b/protocol/blockfetch/client.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	startBatchResultChan chan error
 	busyMutex            sync.Mutex
 	blockUseCallback     bool
+	onceStart            sync.Once
 	onceStop             sync.Once
 }
 
@@ -69,15 +70,21 @@ func NewClient(protoOptions protocol.ProtocolOptions, cfg *Config) *Client {
 		InitialState:        StateIdle,
 	}
 	c.Protocol = protocol.New(protoConfig)
-	// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
-	go func() {
-		<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
-		close(c.blockChan)
-		close(c.startBatchResultChan)
-	}()
 	return c
 }
 
+func (c *Client) Start() {
+	c.onceStart.Do(func() {
+		c.Protocol.Start()
+		// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
+		go func() {
+			<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
+			close(c.blockChan)
+			close(c.startBatchResultChan)
+		}()
+	})
+}
+
 func (c *Client) Stop() error {
 	var err error
 	c.onceStop.Do(func() {
diff --git a/protocol/chainsync/client.go b/protocol/chainsync/client.go
index 94865a2c..341ecade 100644
--- a/protocol/chainsync/client.go
+++ b/protocol/chainsync/client.go
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	firstBlockChan        chan common.Point
 	wantIntersectPoint    bool
 	intersectPointChan    chan common.Point
+	onceStart             sync.Once
 	onceStop              sync.Once
 }
 
@@ -88,18 +89,24 @@ func NewClient(protoOptions protocol.ProtocolOptions, cfg *Config) *Client {
 		InitialState:        stateIdle,
 	}
 	c.Protocol = protocol.New(protoConfig)
-	// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
-	go func() {
-		<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
-		close(c.intersectResultChan)
-		close(c.readyForNextBlockChan)
-		close(c.currentTipChan)
-		close(c.firstBlockChan)
-		close(c.intersectPointChan)
-	}()
 	return c
 }
 
+func (c *Client) Start() {
+	c.onceStart.Do(func() {
+		c.Protocol.Start()
+		// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
+		go func() {
+			<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
+			close(c.intersectResultChan)
+			close(c.readyForNextBlockChan)
+			close(c.currentTipChan)
+			close(c.firstBlockChan)
+			close(c.intersectPointChan)
+		}()
+	})
+}
+
 func (c *Client) messageHandler(msg protocol.Message) error {
 	var err error
 	switch msg.Type() {
diff --git a/protocol/keepalive/client.go b/protocol/keepalive/client.go
index 8d8adc0f..dee56517 100644
--- a/protocol/keepalive/client.go
+++ b/protocol/keepalive/client.go
@@ -58,22 +58,22 @@ func NewClient(protoOptions protocol.ProtocolOptions, cfg *Config) *Client {
 		InitialState:        StateClient,
 	}
 	c.Protocol = protocol.New(protoConfig)
-	// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
-	go func() {
-		<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
-		// Stop any existing timer
-		c.timerMutex.Lock()
-		if c.timer != nil {
-			c.timer.Stop()
-		}
-		c.timerMutex.Unlock()
-	}()
 	return c
 }
 
 func (c *Client) Start() {
 	c.onceStart.Do(func() {
 		c.Protocol.Start()
+		// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
+		go func() {
+			<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
+			// Stop any existing timer
+			c.timerMutex.Lock()
+			if c.timer != nil {
+				c.timer.Stop()
+			}
+			c.timerMutex.Unlock()
+		}()
 		c.sendKeepAlive()
 	})
 }
diff --git a/protocol/localstatequery/client.go b/protocol/localstatequery/client.go
index d6f88413..4f4f1f17 100644
--- a/protocol/localstatequery/client.go
+++ b/protocol/localstatequery/client.go
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	queryResultChan               chan []byte
 	acquireResultChan             chan error
 	currentEra                    int
+	onceStart                     sync.Once
 }
 
 // NewClient returns a new LocalStateQuery client object
@@ -82,15 +83,21 @@ func NewClient(protoOptions protocol.ProtocolOptions, cfg *Config) *Client {
 		c.enableGetRewardInfoPoolsBlock = true
 	}
 	c.Protocol = protocol.New(protoConfig)
-	// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
-	go func() {
-		<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
-		close(c.queryResultChan)
-		close(c.acquireResultChan)
-	}()
 	return c
 }
 
+func (c *Client) Start() {
+	c.onceStart.Do(func() {
+		c.Protocol.Start()
+		// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
+		go func() {
+			<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
+			close(c.queryResultChan)
+			close(c.acquireResultChan)
+		}()
+	})
+}
+
 func (c *Client) messageHandler(msg protocol.Message) error {
 	var err error
 	switch msg.Type() {
diff --git a/protocol/localtxmonitor/client.go b/protocol/localtxmonitor/client.go
index c2e953c1..dd574618 100644
--- a/protocol/localtxmonitor/client.go
+++ b/protocol/localtxmonitor/client.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	hasTxResultChan    chan bool
 	nextTxResultChan   chan []byte
 	getSizesResultChan chan MsgReplyGetSizesResult
+	onceStart          sync.Once
 	onceStop           sync.Once
 }
 
@@ -72,17 +73,23 @@ func NewClient(protoOptions protocol.ProtocolOptions, cfg *Config) *Client {
 		InitialState:        stateIdle,
 	}
 	c.Protocol = protocol.New(protoConfig)
-	// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
-	go func() {
-		<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
-		close(c.acquireResultChan)
-		close(c.hasTxResultChan)
-		close(c.nextTxResultChan)
-		close(c.getSizesResultChan)
-	}()
 	return c
 }
 
+func (c *Client) Start() {
+	c.onceStart.Do(func() {
+		c.Protocol.Start()
+		// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
+		go func() {
+			<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
+			close(c.acquireResultChan)
+			close(c.hasTxResultChan)
+			close(c.nextTxResultChan)
+			close(c.getSizesResultChan)
+		}()
+	})
+}
+
 func (c *Client) messageHandler(msg protocol.Message) error {
 	var err error
 	switch msg.Type() {
diff --git a/protocol/localtxsubmission/client.go b/protocol/localtxsubmission/client.go
index 50b52cff..df61f5db 100644
--- a/protocol/localtxsubmission/client.go
+++ b/protocol/localtxsubmission/client.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ type Client struct {
 	config           *Config
 	busyMutex        sync.Mutex
 	submitResultChan chan error
+	onceStart        sync.Once
 	onceStop         sync.Once
 }
 
@@ -61,14 +62,20 @@ func NewClient(protoOptions protocol.ProtocolOptions, cfg *Config) *Client {
 		InitialState:        stateIdle,
 	}
 	c.Protocol = protocol.New(protoConfig)
-	// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
-	go func() {
-		<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
-		close(c.submitResultChan)
-	}()
 	return c
 }
 
+func (c *Client) Start() {
+	c.onceStart.Do(func() {
+		c.Protocol.Start()
+		// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
+		go func() {
+			<-c.Protocol.DoneChan()
+			close(c.submitResultChan)
+		}()
+	})
+}
+
 func (c *Client) messageHandler(msg protocol.Message) error {
 	var err error
 	switch msg.Type() {
diff --git a/protocol/txsubmission/server.go b/protocol/txsubmission/server.go
index 1d750bf4..c9904e01 100644
--- a/protocol/txsubmission/server.go
+++ b/protocol/txsubmission/server.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ package txsubmission
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/blinklabs-io/gouroboros/protocol"
 )
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ type Server struct {
 	stateDone              bool
 	requestTxIdsResultChan chan []TxIdAndSize
 	requestTxsResultChan   chan []TxBody
+	onceStart              sync.Once
 }
 
 func NewServer(protoOptions protocol.ProtocolOptions, cfg *Config) *Server {
@@ -48,15 +50,21 @@ func NewServer(protoOptions protocol.ProtocolOptions, cfg *Config) *Server {
 		InitialState:        stateInit,
 	}
 	s.Protocol = protocol.New(protoConfig)
-	// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
-	go func() {
-		<-s.Protocol.DoneChan()
-		close(s.requestTxIdsResultChan)
-		close(s.requestTxsResultChan)
-	}()
 	return s
 }
 
+func (s *Server) Start() {
+	s.onceStart.Do(func() {
+		s.Protocol.Start()
+		// Start goroutine to cleanup resources on protocol shutdown
+		go func() {
+			<-s.Protocol.DoneChan()
+			close(s.requestTxIdsResultChan)
+			close(s.requestTxsResultChan)
+		}()
+	})
+}
+
 func (s *Server) messageHandler(msg protocol.Message) error {
 	var err error
 	switch msg.Type() {