diff --git a/fairmq/sdk/Topology.h b/fairmq/sdk/Topology.h
index fbaa451d..a9f70aaf 100644
--- a/fairmq/sdk/Topology.h
+++ b/fairmq/sdk/Topology.h
@@ -183,6 +183,38 @@ class BasicTopology : public AsioBase<Executor, Allocator>
             throw RuntimeError("Given topology ", givenTopo, " is not activated (active: ", activeTopo, ")");
         }
 
+        SubscribeToCommands();
+
+        fDDSSession.StartDDSService();
+        SubscribeToStateChanges();
+    }
+
+    /// not copyable
+    BasicTopology(const BasicTopology&) = delete;
+    BasicTopology& operator=(const BasicTopology&) = delete;
+
+    /// movable
+    BasicTopology(BasicTopology&&) = default;
+    BasicTopology& operator=(BasicTopology&&) = default;
+
+    void SubscribeToStateChanges()
+    {
+        using namespace fair::mq::sdk::cmd;
+        // FAIR_LOG(debug) << "Subscribing to state change";
+        Cmds cmds(make<SubscribeToStateChange>());
+        fDDSSession.SendCommand(cmds.Serialize());
+    }
+
+    void UnsubscribeFromStateChanges()
+    {
+        using namespace fair::mq::sdk::cmd;
+        fDDSSession.SendCommand(Cmds(make<UnsubscribeFromStateChange>()).Serialize());
+        // give dds a chance to complete request, TODO: track each individual task and its subscription status
+        std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(100));
+    }
+
+    void SubscribeToCommands()
+    {
         using namespace fair::mq::sdk::cmd;
         fDDSSession.SubscribeToCommands([&](const std::string& msg, const std::string& /* condition */, DDSChannel::Id senderId) {
             Cmds inCmds;
@@ -239,28 +271,6 @@ class BasicTopology : public AsioBase<Executor, Allocator>
                 }
             }
         });
-
-        fDDSSession.StartDDSService();
-        // FAIR_LOG(debug) << "Subscribing to state change";
-        Cmds cmds(make<SubscribeToStateChange>());
-        fDDSSession.SendCommand(cmds.Serialize());
-    }
-
-    /// not copyable
-    BasicTopology(const BasicTopology&) = delete;
-    BasicTopology& operator=(const BasicTopology&) = delete;
-
-    /// movable
-    BasicTopology(BasicTopology&&) = default;
-    BasicTopology& operator=(BasicTopology&&) = default;
-
-    void UnsubscribeFromStateChanges()
-    {
-        using namespace fair::mq::sdk::cmd;
-
-        fDDSSession.SendCommand(Cmds(make<UnsubscribeFromStateChange>()).Serialize());
-        // give dds a chance to complete request, TODO: track each individual task and its subscription status
-        std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(100));
     }
 
     ~BasicTopology()