diff --git a/sslo_league/src/app_state.rs b/sslo_league/src/app_state.rs
index 54012d5..6a6e2ec 100644
--- a/sslo_league/src/app_state.rs
+++ b/sslo_league/src/app_state.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ pub struct LeagueAppState {
     pub database: Database,
 
     /// separate thread that handles reporting to lobby
-    pub lobby_mgr: LobbyMgr,
+    pub lobby_mgr: Option<LobbyMgr>,
 
     // /// separate thread that manages all the server slots
     // pub slot_mgr: SlotMgr,
@@ -104,15 +104,6 @@ impl LeagueAppState {
             },
         };
 
-        // setup lobby manager
-        let lobby_mgr = match LobbyMgr::new(shutdown_control.clone(), &config, league_logo_local.clone()) {
-            Ok(lobby_mgr) => lobby_mgr,
-            Err(e) => {
-                log::error!("Failed to start lobby manager!");
-                return Err(e);
-            }
-        };
-
         // compile app state
         let mut app_state = Self {
             // slot_mgr,
@@ -122,7 +113,7 @@ impl LeagueAppState {
             database,
             league_logo_http,
             league_logo_local,
-            lobby_mgr,
+            lobby_mgr: None,
         };
 
         Ok(SsloAppState::new(
@@ -131,6 +122,27 @@ impl LeagueAppState {
         ))
     }
 
+    /// This is must be called after new(),
+    /// intention is to allow the installer to execute before the background workers start
+    pub async fn start(&mut self) -> Result<(), SsloError> {
+
+        // start lobby manager
+        if self.lobby_mgr.is_some() {
+            log::error!("lobby_mgr was already started!");
+            return Err(SsloError::PropagateAlreadyLoggedError());
+        } else {
+            self.lobby_mgr = match LobbyMgr::new(self.shutdown_control.clone(), &self.config, self.league_logo_local.clone()) {
+                Ok(lobby_mgr) => Some(lobby_mgr),
+                Err(e) => {
+                    log::error!("Failed to start lobby manager!");
+                    return Err(e);
+                }
+            };
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
 
     /// Relate a path to the sslo database directory and return.
     /// When the given path already absolute, it is returned unchanged.
@@ -163,7 +175,10 @@ impl LeagueAppState {
     }
 
     pub fn join(&self) {
-        self.lobby_mgr.join();
+        if let Some(lobby_mgr) = self.lobby_mgr.as_ref() {
+            lobby_mgr.join();
+        }
+
         // self.slot_mgr.join();
     }
 
diff --git a/sslo_league/src/main.rs b/sslo_league/src/main.rs
index b8614a2..06b0887 100644
--- a/sslo_league/src/main.rs
+++ b/sslo_league/src/main.rs
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), SsloError> {
         log::info!("installation successfully finished within: {}", formatter.format(duration_end - duration_start));
     }
 
+    // startup everything
+    app_state.substate_mut().start().await?;
 
     // setup https routing
     let axum_router = http::create_router(app_state.clone());