diff --git a/streaming/stream_session.cc b/streaming/stream_session.cc
index 1ac3eb694d..f54a0917e2 100644
--- a/streaming/stream_session.cc
+++ b/streaming/stream_session.cc
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ void stream_session::init_messaging_service_handler() {
 
 distributed<stream_session::handler> stream_session::_handlers;
 
-future<> stream_session::start() {
+future<> stream_session::init_streaming_service() {
     return _handlers.start().then([this] {
         return _handlers.invoke_on_all([this] (handler& h) {
             this->init_messaging_service_handler();
diff --git a/streaming/stream_session.hh b/streaming/stream_session.hh
index c343387405..da765a85b3 100644
--- a/streaming/stream_session.hh
+++ b/streaming/stream_session.hh
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ private:
     };
     static distributed<handler> _handlers;
     void init_messaging_service_handler();
-    future<> start();
+    future<> init_streaming_service();
 public:
     struct ss_table_streaming_sections {
         sstables::sstable& sstable;