diff --git a/server/api/server.go b/server/api/server.go
index 5bc406acfa38..ef280951e6f7 100644
--- a/server/api/server.go
+++ b/server/api/server.go
@@ -90,6 +90,16 @@ func New(clientCtx client.Context, logger log.Logger) *Server {
 // non-blocking, so an external signal handler must be used.
 func (s *Server) Start(cfg config.Config) error {
 	s.mtx.Lock()
+	if cfg.Telemetry.Enabled {
+		m, err := telemetry.New(cfg.Telemetry)
+		if err != nil {
+			s.mtx.Unlock()
+			return err
+		}
+
+		s.metrics = m
+		s.registerMetrics()
+	}
 
 	tmCfg := tmrpcserver.DefaultConfig()
 	tmCfg.MaxOpenConnections = int(cfg.API.MaxOpenConnections)
@@ -129,13 +139,6 @@ func (s *Server) registerGRPCGatewayRoutes() {
 	s.Router.PathPrefix("/").Handler(s.GRPCGatewayRouter)
 }
 
-func (s *Server) SetTelemetry(m *telemetry.Metrics) {
-	s.mtx.Lock()
-	s.metrics = m
-	s.registerMetrics()
-	s.mtx.Unlock()
-}
-
 func (s *Server) registerMetrics() {
 	metricsHandler := func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		format := strings.TrimSpace(r.FormValue("format"))
diff --git a/server/start.go b/server/start.go
index e61b96204c53..db20d3afb81e 100644
--- a/server/start.go
+++ b/server/start.go
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/server/rosetta"
 	crgserver "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/server/rosetta/lib/server"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/server/types"
-	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/telemetry"
 	sdktypes "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
 )
 
@@ -213,16 +212,6 @@ func startStandAlone(ctx *Context, appCreator types.AppCreator) error {
 
 	app := appCreator(ctx.Logger, db, traceWriter, ctx.Viper)
 
-	config, err := serverconfig.GetConfig(ctx.Viper)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	_, err = startTelemetry(config)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	svr, err := server.NewServer(addr, transport, app)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error creating listener: %v", err)
@@ -342,11 +331,6 @@ func startInProcess(ctx *Context, clientCtx client.Context, appCreator types.App
 		}
 	}
 
-	metrics, err := startTelemetry(config)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	var apiSrv *api.Server
 	if config.API.Enable {
 		genDoc, err := genDocProvider()
@@ -394,9 +378,6 @@ func startInProcess(ctx *Context, clientCtx client.Context, appCreator types.App
 
 		apiSrv = api.New(clientCtx, ctx.Logger.With("module", "api-server"))
 		app.RegisterAPIRoutes(apiSrv, config.API)
-		if config.Telemetry.Enabled {
-			apiSrv.SetTelemetry(metrics)
-		}
 		errCh := make(chan error)
 
 		go func() {
@@ -515,10 +496,3 @@ func startInProcess(ctx *Context, clientCtx client.Context, appCreator types.App
 	// wait for signal capture and gracefully return
 	return WaitForQuitSignals()
 }
-
-func startTelemetry(cfg serverconfig.Config) (*telemetry.Metrics, error) {
-	if !cfg.Telemetry.Enabled {
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-	return telemetry.New(cfg.Telemetry)
-}