diff --git a/lib/node.js b/lib/node.js
index 3061610c..6309da6c 100644
--- a/lib/node.js
+++ b/lib/node.js
@@ -141,14 +141,14 @@ Node.prototype._startService = function(serviceInfo, callback) {
   config.name = serviceInfo.name;
   var service = new serviceInfo.module(config);
 
+  // include in loaded services
+  self.services[serviceInfo.name] = service;
+
   service.start(function(err) {
     if (err) {
       return callback(err);
     }
 
-    // include in loaded services
-    self.services[serviceInfo.name] = service;
-
     // add API methods
     var methodData = service.getAPIMethods();
     var methodNameConflicts = [];