diff --git a/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs b/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs
index a2546d279a..f6e151803d 100644
--- a/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs
+++ b/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::mix_peer::MixPeer;
+use crate::node;
 use crate::node::metrics::MetricsReporter;
 use curve25519_dalek::montgomery::MontgomeryPoint;
 use curve25519_dalek::scalar::Scalar;
@@ -214,7 +215,7 @@ impl MixNode {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn start(&self) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+    pub fn start(&self, config: node::Config) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         // Create the runtime, probably later move it to MixNode itself?
         let mut rt = Runtime::new()?;
 
@@ -227,6 +228,11 @@ impl MixNode {
         let pub_key_str =
             base64::encode_config(&self.public_key.to_bytes().to_vec(), base64::URL_SAFE);
 
+        rt.spawn({
+            let presence_notifier = presence::Notifier::new(&config);
+            presence_notifier.run()
+        });
+
         let metrics = MetricsReporter::new().add_arc_mutex();
         rt.spawn(MetricsReporter::run_received_metrics_control(
             metrics.clone(),
diff --git a/mixnode/src/node/presence.rs b/mixnode/src/node/presence.rs
index 18fcd66136..483fee0981 100644
--- a/mixnode/src/node/presence.rs
+++ b/mixnode/src/node/presence.rs
@@ -36,10 +36,12 @@ impl Notifier {
             .unwrap();
     }
 
-    pub fn run(&self) {
+    pub async fn run(self) {
+        let delay_duration = Duration::from_secs(5);
+
         loop {
             self.notify();
-            thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(5));
+            tokio::time::delay_for(delay_duration).await;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/mixnode/src/node/runner.rs b/mixnode/src/node/runner.rs
index 93b16381ab..8f120cc0a7 100644
--- a/mixnode/src/node/runner.rs
+++ b/mixnode/src/node/runner.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,8 @@
 use crate::banner;
 use crate::node;
-use crate::node::presence;
 use crate::node::MixNode;
 use clap::ArgMatches;
-
 use std::net::ToSocketAddrs;
-use std::thread;
 
 fn print_binding_warning(address: &str) {
     println!("\n##### WARNING #####");
@@ -29,11 +26,7 @@ pub fn start(matches: &ArgMatches) {
     );
 
     let mix = MixNode::new(&config);
-    thread::spawn(move || {
-        let notifier = presence::Notifier::new(&config);
-        notifier.run();
-    });
-    mix.start().unwrap();
+    mix.start(config).unwrap();
 }
 
 fn new_config(matches: &ArgMatches) -> node::Config {