diff --git a/bgpd/bgp_rpki.c b/bgpd/bgp_rpki.c
index 5782cb5391..5677e6958f 100644
--- a/bgpd/bgp_rpki.c
+++ b/bgpd/bgp_rpki.c
@@ -1249,6 +1249,7 @@ DEFPY(rpki_cache, rpki_cache_cmd,
 	int return_value;
 	struct listnode *cache_node;
 	struct cache *current_cache;
+	bool init = !!list_isempty(cache_list);
 
 	for (ALL_LIST_ELEMENTS_RO(cache_list, cache_node, current_cache)) {
 		if (current_cache->preference == preference) {
@@ -1281,6 +1282,9 @@ DEFPY(rpki_cache, rpki_cache_cmd,
 		return CMD_WARNING;
 	}
 
+	if (init)
+		start();
+
 	return CMD_SUCCESS;
 }