diff --git a/lib/ns/interfacemgr.c b/lib/ns/interfacemgr.c
index b399fe9f55..473a79f0c1 100644
--- a/lib/ns/interfacemgr.c
+++ b/lib/ns/interfacemgr.c
@@ -331,15 +331,6 @@ ns_interfacemgr_create(isc_mem_t *mctx, ns_server_t *sctx,
 	UNUSED(geoip);
 #endif /* if defined(HAVE_GEOIP2) */
 
-	if (scan) {
-		result = isc_nm_routeconnect(nm, route_connected, mgr);
-		if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
-			isc_log_write(IFMGR_COMMON_LOGARGS, ISC_LOG_INFO,
-				      "unable to open route socket: %s",
-				      isc_result_totext(result));
-		}
-	}
-
 	isc_refcount_init(&mgr->references, 1);
 	mgr->magic = IFMGR_MAGIC;
 	*mgrp = mgr;
@@ -353,6 +344,15 @@ ns_interfacemgr_create(isc_mem_t *mctx, ns_server_t *sctx,
 		RUNTIME_CHECK(result == ISC_R_SUCCESS);
 	}
 
+	if (scan) {
+		result = isc_nm_routeconnect(nm, route_connected, mgr);
+		if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
+			isc_log_write(IFMGR_COMMON_LOGARGS, ISC_LOG_INFO,
+				      "unable to open route socket: %s",
+				      isc_result_totext(result));
+		}
+	}
+
 	return (ISC_R_SUCCESS);
 
 cleanup_listenon: