diff --git a/src/Proto.Cluster/Gossip/Gossiper.cs b/src/Proto.Cluster/Gossip/Gossiper.cs
index 13a81a77a1..0522f1e1ac 100644
--- a/src/Proto.Cluster/Gossip/Gossiper.cs
+++ b/src/Proto.Cluster/Gossip/Gossiper.cs
@@ -187,8 +187,11 @@ public async Task SetStateAsync(string key, IMessage value)
         }
     }
 
-    internal Task StartGossipActorAsync(IGossip? gossip = null, IGossipTransport? transport = null)
+    internal async Task StartGossipActorAsync(IGossip? gossip = null, IGossipTransport? transport = null)
     {
+
+        await Task.Delay(100); //racy. _cluster.MemberList may be null
+        
         _gossip = gossip ?? new Gossip(
             _cluster.System.Id,
             _cluster.Config.GossipFanout,
@@ -213,8 +216,7 @@ internal Task StartGossipActorAsync(IGossip? gossip = null, IGossipTransport? tr
             tmp.Left.Clear();
             _context.Send(_pid, tmp);
         });
-        
-        return Task.CompletedTask;
+
     }
 
     internal Task StartgossipLoopAsync()