diff --git a/cmd/vcluster/cmd/start.go b/cmd/vcluster/cmd/start.go
index b55b3565e8..910e244ca0 100644
--- a/cmd/vcluster/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/vcluster/cmd/start.go
@@ -89,7 +89,12 @@ func ExecuteStart(ctx context.Context, options *StartOptions) error {
 	// set features for plugins to recognize
 	plugin.DefaultManager.SetProFeatures(pro.LicenseFeatures())
 
-	// check if we should create certs
+	// connect to vCluster platform if configured
+	startPlatformServersAndControllers, err := pro.ConnectToPlatform(ctx, vConfig)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("connect to platform: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	err = setup.Initialize(ctx, vConfig)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("initialize: %w", err)
@@ -101,6 +106,11 @@ func ExecuteStart(ctx context.Context, options *StartOptions) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("create controller context: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	err = startPlatformServersAndControllers(controllerCtx.VirtualManager)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("start platform controllers: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	// start integrations
 	err = integrations.StartIntegrations(controllerCtx)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -134,11 +144,6 @@ func ExecuteStart(ctx context.Context, options *StartOptions) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// connect to vCluster platform if configured
-	if err := pro.ConnectToPlatform(ctx, vConfig, controllerCtx.VirtualManager); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("connect to platform: %w", err)
-	}
-
 	// start leader election + controllers
 	err = StartLeaderElection(controllerCtx, func() error {
 		return setup.StartControllers(controllerCtx, syncers)
diff --git a/pkg/pro/platform.go b/pkg/pro/platform.go
index 11407313ab..4674f3ee52 100644
--- a/pkg/pro/platform.go
+++ b/pkg/pro/platform.go
@@ -7,6 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/manager"
 )
 
-var ConnectToPlatform = func(context.Context, *config.VirtualClusterConfig, manager.Manager) error {
-	return nil
+var ConnectToPlatform = func(context.Context, *config.VirtualClusterConfig) (func(mgr manager.Manager) error, error) {
+	return func(_ manager.Manager) error { return nil }, nil
 }