diff --git a/router/gossip.go b/router/gossip.go
index f66ea9d0..a3af241b 100644
--- a/router/gossip.go
+++ b/router/gossip.go
@@ -40,13 +40,15 @@ type GossipSender struct {
 }
 
 func NewGossipSender(send func(GossipData)) *GossipSender {
-	return &GossipSender{send: send}
-}
-
-func (sender *GossipSender) Start() {
-	sender.cell = make(chan GossipData, 1)
-	sender.flushch = make(chan chan bool)
+	cell := make(chan GossipData, 1)
+	flushch := make(chan chan bool)
+	sender := &GossipSender{
+		send:    send,
+		cell:    cell,
+		flushch: flushch,
+	}
 	go sender.run()
+	return sender
 }
 
 func (sender *GossipSender) run() {
diff --git a/router/gossip_channel.go b/router/gossip_channel.go
index da7dc0ec..8dc1f510 100644
--- a/router/gossip_channel.go
+++ b/router/gossip_channel.go
@@ -147,7 +147,6 @@ func (c *GossipChannel) sendDown(conn Connection, data GossipData) {
 			}
 		})
 		c.senders[conn] = sender
-		sender.Start()
 	}
 	sender.Send(data)
 }
@@ -198,7 +197,6 @@ func (c *GossipChannel) relayBroadcast(srcName PeerName, update GossipData) erro
 	if !found {
 		broadcaster = NewGossipSender(func(pending GossipData) { c.sendBroadcast(srcName, pending) })
 		c.broadcasters[srcName] = broadcaster
-		broadcaster.Start()
 	}
 	broadcaster.Send(update)
 	return nil