diff --git a/core/reactor.cc b/core/reactor.cc
index 1292e6c5ac..7ee97c47c6 100644
--- a/core/reactor.cc
+++ b/core/reactor.cc
@@ -347,7 +347,6 @@ inter_thread_work_queue::inter_thread_work_queue()
     , _completed(queue_length)
     , _start_eventfd(0)
     , _complete_eventfd(0) {
-    complete();
 }
 
 void inter_thread_work_queue::submit_item(inter_thread_work_queue::work_item* item) {
@@ -572,6 +571,14 @@ void smp::listen_all(inter_thread_work_queue* qs)
     }
 }
 
+void smp::start_all_queues()
+{
+    for (unsigned c = 0; c < count; c++) {
+        _qs[c][engine._id].start();
+    }
+    listen_all(_qs[engine._id]);
+}
+
 void smp::configure(boost::program_options::variables_map configuration)
 {
     smp::count = 1;
@@ -593,12 +600,12 @@ void smp::configure(boost::program_options::variables_map configuration)
                 engine._id = i;
                 engine.configure(configuration);
                 engine.when_started().then([i] {
-                    listen_all(_qs[i]);
+                    start_all_queues();
                 });
                 engine.run();
             }, i);
         }
-        listen_all(_qs[0]);
+        start_all_queues();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/core/reactor.hh b/core/reactor.hh
index 93a62e9791..f8195e252b 100644
--- a/core/reactor.hh
+++ b/core/reactor.hh
@@ -369,6 +369,7 @@ public:
         submit_item(wi);
         return fut;
     }
+    void start() { complete(); }
 private:
     void work();
     void complete();
@@ -383,7 +384,7 @@ class thread_pool {
     std::thread _worker_thread;
     std::atomic<bool> _stopped = { false };
 public:
-    thread_pool() : _worker_thread([this] { work(); }) {}
+    thread_pool() : _worker_thread([this] { work(); }) { inter_thread_wq.start(); }
     ~thread_pool();
     template <typename T, typename Func>
     future<T> submit(Func func) {return inter_thread_wq.submit<T>(std::move(func));}
@@ -496,6 +497,7 @@ public:
 private:
 	static void listen_all(inter_thread_work_queue* qs);
 	static void listen_one(inter_thread_work_queue& q, std::unique_ptr<readable_eventfd>&& rfd, std::unique_ptr<writeable_eventfd>&& wfd);
+	static void start_all_queues();
 public:
 	static unsigned count;
 };