diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/kafka/server/BrokerServer.scala b/core/src/main/scala/kafka/server/BrokerServer.scala
index 8689afd743d88..e861f1187a241 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/kafka/server/BrokerServer.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/kafka/server/BrokerServer.scala
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ class BrokerServer(
         threadNamePrefix,
         retryTimeoutMs = 60000
       )
+      clientToControllerChannelManager.start()
       forwardingManager = new ForwardingManagerImpl(clientToControllerChannelManager)
 
       val apiVersionManager = ApiVersionManager(