diff --git a/nym-api/src/main.rs b/nym-api/src/main.rs
index 29a19fbbf6..c0191f8510 100644
--- a/nym-api/src/main.rs
+++ b/nym-api/src/main.rs
@@ -121,29 +121,30 @@ async fn start_nym_api_tasks(
         .await?;
     }
 
-    let ephemera_config = match EphemeraConfiguration::try_load(config.get_ephemera_config_path()) {
-        Ok(c) => c,
-        Err(_) => {
-            config
-                .get_ephemera_args()
-                .cmd
-                .clone()
-                .execute(Some(&config.get_id()));
-            EphemeraConfiguration::try_load(config.get_ephemera_config_path())
-                .expect("Config file should be created now")
-        }
-    };
-    let ephemera_reward_manager = ephemera::application::NymApi::run(
-        config.get_ephemera_args().clone(),
-        ephemera_config,
-        nyxd_client.clone(),
-        &shutdown,
-    )
-    .await?;
-
     // and then only start the uptime updater (and the monitor itself, duh)
     // if the monitoring if it's enabled
     if config.network_monitor.enabled {
+        let ephemera_config =
+            match EphemeraConfiguration::try_load(config.get_ephemera_config_path()) {
+                Ok(c) => c,
+                Err(_) => {
+                    config
+                        .get_ephemera_args()
+                        .cmd
+                        .clone()
+                        .execute(Some(&config.get_id()));
+                    EphemeraConfiguration::try_load(config.get_ephemera_config_path())
+                        .expect("Config file should be created now")
+                }
+            };
+        let ephemera_reward_manager = ephemera::application::NymApi::run(
+            config.get_ephemera_args().clone(),
+            ephemera_config,
+            nyxd_client.clone(),
+            &shutdown,
+        )
+        .await?;
+
         // if network monitor is enabled, the storage MUST BE available
         let storage = maybe_storage.unwrap();