diff --git a/main.cc b/main.cc
index d56c154f5c..78a1f53284 100644
--- a/main.cc
+++ b/main.cc
@@ -2375,6 +2375,7 @@ To start the scylla server proper, simply invoke as: scylla server (or just scyl
                 // Need to do it before allowing incoming messaging service connections since
                 // storage proxy's and migration manager's verbs may access group0.
                 group0_service.setup_group0_if_exist(sys_ks.local(), ss.local(), qp.local(), mm.local()).get();
+                group0_service.enable_group0_state_machine().get();
             }
 
             // The call to setup_group0_if_exists() above guarantees that, if group0 is
diff --git a/service/raft/raft_group0.cc b/service/raft/raft_group0.cc
index b52490a47f..99a3e45aa7 100644
--- a/service/raft/raft_group0.cc
+++ b/service/raft/raft_group0.cc
@@ -453,13 +453,12 @@ future<> raft_group0::start_server_for_group0(raft::group_id group0_id, service:
     auto& persistence = srv_for_group0.persistence;
     auto& server = *srv_for_group0.server;
     co_await with_scheduling_group(_sg, [this, &srv_for_group0, group0_id] (this auto self) -> future<> {
-        auto& state_machine = dynamic_cast<group0_state_machine&>(srv_for_group0.state_machine);
+        _group0_sm = &dynamic_cast<group0_state_machine&>(srv_for_group0.state_machine);
         co_await _raft_gr.start_server_for_group(std::move(srv_for_group0));
         // Set _group0 immediately after the server is registered in _raft_gr._servers.
         // This ensures abort_and_drain()/destroy() can find and clean up the server
-        // even if enable_in_memory_state_machine() or later steps throw.
+        // even if enable_group0_state_machine() or later steps throw.
         _group0.emplace<raft::group_id>(group0_id);
-        co_await state_machine.enable_in_memory_state_machine();
     });
 
     // Fix for scylladb/scylladb#16683:
@@ -478,6 +477,11 @@ future<> raft_group0::start_server_for_group0(raft::group_id group0_id, service:
     }
 }
 
+future<> raft_group0::enable_group0_state_machine() {
+    SCYLLA_ASSERT(_group0_sm);
+    co_await _group0_sm->enable_in_memory_state_machine();
+}
+
 future<> raft_group0::leadership_monitor_fiber() {
     try {
         auto sub = _abort_source.subscribe([&] () noexcept {
@@ -517,7 +521,9 @@ future<> raft_group0::join_group0(std::vector<gms::inet_address> seeds, shared_p
     auto group0_id = raft::group_id{co_await sys_ks.get_raft_group0_id()};
     if (group0_id) {
         // Group 0 ID present means we've already joined group 0 before.
-        co_return co_await start_server_for_group0(group0_id, ss, qp, mm);
+        co_await start_server_for_group0(group0_id, ss, qp, mm);
+        co_await enable_group0_state_machine();
+        co_return;
     }
 
     raft::server* server = nullptr;
@@ -586,6 +592,7 @@ future<> raft_group0::join_group0(std::vector<gms::inet_address> seeds, shared_p
                 [] { std::raise(SIGSTOP); });
 
             co_await start_server_for_group0(group0_id, ss, qp, mm);
+            co_await enable_group0_state_machine();
             server = &_raft_gr.group0();
             // FIXME if we crash now or after getting added to the config but before storing group 0 ID,
             // we'll end with a bootstrapped server that possibly added some entries, but we won't remember that we have such a server
diff --git a/service/raft/raft_group0.hh b/service/raft/raft_group0.hh
index 6947948d9c..458643f748 100644
--- a/service/raft/raft_group0.hh
+++ b/service/raft/raft_group0.hh
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ namespace service {
 extern const char* const raft_upgrade_doc;
 
 class migration_manager;
+class group0_state_machine;
 class raft_group0_client;
 class storage_service;
 
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ class raft_group0 {
     gms::feature_service& _feat;
     raft_group0_client& _client;
     seastar::scheduling_group _sg;
+    group0_state_machine* _group0_sm = nullptr;
 
     // Status of leader discovery. Initially there is no group 0,
     // and the variant contains no state. During initial cluster
@@ -198,6 +200,14 @@ public:
     //
     future<> setup_group0_if_exist(db::system_keyspace&, service::storage_service& ss, cql3::query_processor& qp, service::migration_manager& mm);
 
+    // Enable the in-memory state machine for group 0.
+    // This loads the persisted state (topology, schema, etc.) into memory.
+    // Must be called after all dependencies of reload_state() are initialized
+    // (e.g. CDC generation service, non-system keyspace schemas).
+    //
+    // Precondition: joined_group0().
+    future<> enable_group0_state_machine();
+
     // Check whether the given Raft server is a member of group 0 configuration
     // according to our current knowledge.
     //
diff --git a/test/lib/cql_test_env.cc b/test/lib/cql_test_env.cc
index e2ac86f7c8..4a85c8e896 100644
--- a/test/lib/cql_test_env.cc
+++ b/test/lib/cql_test_env.cc
@@ -1127,6 +1127,7 @@ private:
 
             if (!group0_service.maintenance_mode() && _sys_ks.local().bootstrap_complete()) {
                 group0_service.setup_group0_if_exist(_sys_ks.local(), _ss.local(), _qp.local(), _mm.local()).get();
+                group0_service.enable_group0_state_machine().get();
             }
             _groups_manager.invoke_on_all([](service::strong_consistency::groups_manager& m) {
                 return m.start();