diff --git a/lib/bitcoind.js b/lib/bitcoind.js
index 023a1121..24c18ec2 100644
--- a/lib/bitcoind.js
+++ b/lib/bitcoind.js
@@ -35,17 +35,6 @@ Bitcoin.prototype.start = function(callback) {
   var errorCaught = none;
 
   this.log_pipe = bitcoindjs.start(function(err, status) {
-    if (callback) {
-      callback(err);
-      callback = null;
-    }
-
-    if (err) {
-      self.emit('error', err);
-    } else {
-      self.emit('open', status);
-    }
-
     process.on('SIGINT', self.stop.bind(self));
     process.on('SIGHUP', self.stop.bind(self));
 
@@ -69,6 +58,17 @@ Bitcoin.prototype.start = function(callback) {
       }
       self.stop();
     });
+
+    if (callback) {
+      callback(err);
+      callback = null;
+    }
+
+    if (err) {
+      self.emit('error', err);
+    } else {
+      self.emit('open', status);
+    }
   });
 
   // bitcoind's boost threads aren't in the thread pool