diff --git a/examples/cluster-api/main.go b/examples/cluster-api/main.go
index 71df954..814c4e3 100644
--- a/examples/cluster-api/main.go
+++ b/examples/cluster-api/main.go
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func main() {
 		return ignoreCanceled(localMgr.Start(ctx))
 	})
 	g.Go(func() error {
-		return ignoreCanceled(provider.Run(ctx, mcMgr))
+		return ignoreCanceled(provider.Start(ctx, mcMgr))
 	})
 	g.Go(func() error {
 		return ignoreCanceled(mcMgr.Start(ctx))
diff --git a/examples/file/main.go b/examples/file/main.go
index edf99f7..2101d11 100644
--- a/examples/file/main.go
+++ b/examples/file/main.go
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ func main() {
 		return ignoreCanceled(mgr.Start(ctx))
 	})
 	g.Go(func() error {
-		return ignoreCanceled(provider.Run(ctx, mgr))
+		return ignoreCanceled(provider.Start(ctx, mgr))
 	})
 	if err := g.Wait(); err != nil {
 		entryLog.Info("error in errgroup: %w", err)
diff --git a/examples/kind/main.go b/examples/kind/main.go
index c532483..97901de 100644
--- a/examples/kind/main.go
+++ b/examples/kind/main.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func main() {
 	// Starting everything.
 	g, ctx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
 	g.Go(func() error {
-		return ignoreCanceled(provider.Run(ctx, mgr))
+		return ignoreCanceled(provider.Start(ctx, mgr))
 	})
 	g.Go(func() error {
 		return ignoreCanceled(mgr.Start(ctx))
diff --git a/examples/namespace/main.go b/examples/namespace/main.go
index cc6458b..5de5a2b 100644
--- a/examples/namespace/main.go
+++ b/examples/namespace/main.go
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, log logr.Logger, kubeconfig string) error {
 	// Starting everything.
 	g, ctx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
 	g.Go(func() error {
-		return ignoreCanceled(provider.Run(ctx, mgr))
+		return ignoreCanceled(provider.Start(ctx, mgr))
 	})
 	g.Go(func() error {
 		return ignoreCanceled(cl.Start(ctx))
diff --git a/pkg/multicluster/multicluster.go b/pkg/multicluster/multicluster.go
index 4f6f777..87d137e 100644
--- a/pkg/multicluster/multicluster.go
+++ b/pkg/multicluster/multicluster.go
@@ -60,4 +60,9 @@ type Provider interface {
 	// IndexField indexes the given object by the given field on all engaged
 	// clusters, current and future.
 	IndexField(ctx context.Context, obj client.Object, field string, extractValue client.IndexerFunc) error
+
+	// Start runs the provider. Implementation of this method should block.
+	// If you need to pass in manager, it is recommended to implement SetupWithManager(mgr mcmanager.Manager) error method on individual providers.
+	// It is not part of the provider interface because it is not required for all providers.
+	Start(context.Context, Aware) error
 }
diff --git a/providers/cluster-api/provider.go b/providers/cluster-api/provider.go
index 08de02d..2cfa840 100644
--- a/providers/cluster-api/provider.go
+++ b/providers/cluster-api/provider.go
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/manager"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/reconcile"
 
-	mcmanager "sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/manager"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/multicluster"
 )
 
@@ -109,7 +108,7 @@ type Provider struct {
 	client client.Client
 
 	lock      sync.Mutex
-	mcMgr     mcmanager.Manager
+	aware     multicluster.Aware
 	clusters  map[string]cluster.Cluster
 	cancelFns map[string]context.CancelFunc
 	indexers  []index
@@ -126,13 +125,14 @@ func (p *Provider) Get(_ context.Context, clusterName string) (cluster.Cluster,
 	return nil, multicluster.ErrClusterNotFound
 }
 
-// Run starts the provider and blocks.
-func (p *Provider) Run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
-	p.log.Info("Starting Cluster-API cluster provider")
-
+// Start starts the provider and blocks.
+func (p *Provider) Start(ctx context.Context, aware multicluster.Aware) error {
 	p.lock.Lock()
-	p.mcMgr = mgr
-	p.lock.Unlock()
+	defer p.lock.Unlock()
+
+	p.aware = aware
+
+	p.log.Info("Starting Cluster-API cluster provider")
 
 	<-ctx.Done()
 
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func (p *Provider) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req reconcile.Request) (reconc
 	// TODO(sttts): do tighter logging.
 
 	// provider already started?
-	if p.mcMgr == nil {
+	if p.aware == nil {
 		return reconcile.Result{RequeueAfter: time.Second * 2}, nil
 	}
 
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ func (p *Provider) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req reconcile.Request) (reconc
 	p.log.Info("Added new cluster")
 
 	// engage manager.
-	if err := p.mcMgr.Engage(clusterCtx, key, cl); err != nil {
+	if err := p.aware.Engage(clusterCtx, key, cl); err != nil {
 		log.Error(err, "failed to engage manager")
 		delete(p.clusters, key)
 		delete(p.cancelFns, key)
diff --git a/providers/cluster-inventory-api/provider.go b/providers/cluster-inventory-api/provider.go
index 72d33d4..d71f786 100644
--- a/providers/cluster-inventory-api/provider.go
+++ b/providers/cluster-inventory-api/provider.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ type Provider struct {
 	strategy kubeconfigstrategy.Interface
 
 	lock       sync.RWMutex
-	mcMgr      mcmanager.Manager
+	manager    mcmanager.Manager
 	clusters   map[string]cluster.Cluster
 	cancelFns  map[string]context.CancelFunc
 	kubeconfig map[string]*rest.Config
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ func (p *Provider) SetupWithManager(mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
 	if mgr == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("manager is nil")
 	}
-	p.mcMgr = mgr
+	p.manager = mgr
 
 	// Get the local manager from the multi-cluster manager.
 	localMgr := mgr.GetLocalManager()
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ func (p *Provider) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req reconcile.Request) (reconc
 	defer p.lock.Unlock()
 
 	// provider already started?
-	if p.mcMgr == nil {
+	if p.manager == nil {
 		log.V(3).Info("Provider not started yet, requeuing")
 		return reconcile.Result{RequeueAfter: time.Second * 2}, nil
 	}
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ func (p *Provider) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req reconcile.Request) (reconc
 	log.Info("Added new cluster for ClusterProfile")
 
 	// engage manager.
-	if err := p.mcMgr.Engage(clusterCtx, key, cl); err != nil {
+	if err := p.manager.Engage(clusterCtx, key, cl); err != nil {
 		log.Error(err, "failed to engage manager for ClusterProfile")
 		delete(p.clusters, key)
 		delete(p.cancelFns, key)
@@ -291,3 +291,9 @@ func (p *Provider) IndexField(ctx context.Context, obj client.Object, field stri
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+// Start runs the provider and blocks.
+func (p *Provider) Start(ctx context.Context, _ multicluster.Aware) error {
+	<-ctx.Done()
+	return ctx.Err()
+}
diff --git a/providers/file/provider.go b/providers/file/provider.go
index a36a96b..f9ffc6d 100644
--- a/providers/file/provider.go
+++ b/providers/file/provider.go
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/cluster"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/log"
 
-	mcmanager "sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/manager"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/multicluster"
 )
 
@@ -137,14 +136,19 @@ type Provider struct {
 
 	log logr.Logger
 
-	clustersLock  sync.RWMutex
+	lock          sync.RWMutex
+	aware         multicluster.Aware
 	clusters      map[string]cluster.Cluster
 	clusterCancel map[string]func()
 }
 
-// Run starts the provider and updates the clusters and is blocking.
-func (p *Provider) Run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
-	if err := p.run(ctx, mgr); err != nil {
+// Start starts the provider and updates the clusters and is blocking.
+func (p *Provider) Start(ctx context.Context, aware multicluster.Aware) error {
+	p.lock.Lock()
+	defer p.lock.Unlock()
+	p.aware = aware
+
+	if err := p.run(ctx); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("initial update failed: %w", err)
 	}
 
@@ -181,7 +185,7 @@ func (p *Provider) Run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
 			// would also require to track which cluster belongs to
 			// which file.
 			// Instead clusters are just updated from all files.
-			if err := p.run(ctx, mgr); err != nil {
+			if err := p.run(ctx); err != nil {
 				p.log.Error(err, "failed to update clusters after file change")
 			}
 		case err, ok := <-watcher.Errors:
@@ -194,17 +198,17 @@ func (p *Provider) Run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
 }
 
 // RunOnce performs a single update of the clusters.
-func (p *Provider) RunOnce(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
-	return p.run(ctx, mgr)
+func (p *Provider) RunOnce(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return p.run(ctx)
 }
 
-func (p *Provider) addCluster(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager, name string, cl cluster.Cluster) {
+func (p *Provider) addCluster(ctx context.Context, name string, cl cluster.Cluster) {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 
-	p.clustersLock.Lock()
+	p.lock.Lock()
 	p.clusters[name] = cl
 	p.clusterCancel[name] = cancel
-	p.clustersLock.Unlock()
+	p.lock.Unlock()
 
 	go func() {
 		if err := cl.Start(ctx); err != nil {
@@ -213,8 +217,8 @@ func (p *Provider) addCluster(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager, name s
 		p.removeCluster(name)
 	}()
 
-	if mgr != nil {
-		if err := mgr.Engage(ctx, name, cl); err != nil {
+	if p.aware != nil {
+		if err := p.aware.Engage(ctx, name, cl); err != nil {
 			cancel()
 			p.log.Error(err, "failed to engage cluster", "name", name)
 		}
@@ -222,8 +226,8 @@ func (p *Provider) addCluster(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager, name s
 }
 
 func (p *Provider) removeCluster(name string) {
-	p.clustersLock.Lock()
-	defer p.clustersLock.Unlock()
+	p.lock.Lock()
+	defer p.lock.Unlock()
 
 	if cancel, ok := p.clusterCancel[name]; ok {
 		cancel()
@@ -232,7 +236,11 @@ func (p *Provider) removeCluster(name string) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (p *Provider) run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
+func (p *Provider) run(ctx context.Context) error {
+	if p.aware == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("aware is not set")
+	}
+
 	loadedClusters, err := p.loadClusters()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to load clusters: %w", err)
@@ -247,12 +255,12 @@ func (p *Provider) run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
 			if !cmp.Equal(existingCluster.GetConfig(), cl.GetConfig()) {
 				p.log.Info("updating cluster", "name", name)
 				p.removeCluster(name)
-				p.addCluster(ctx, mgr, name, cl)
+				p.addCluster(ctx, name, cl)
 			}
 			continue
 		}
 		p.log.Info("adding cluster", "name", name)
-		p.addCluster(ctx, mgr, name, cl)
+		p.addCluster(ctx, name, cl)
 	}
 
 	// delete clusters that are no longer present
@@ -271,8 +279,8 @@ func (p *Provider) run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
 // If the cluster name is empty (""), it returns the first cluster
 // found.
 func (p *Provider) Get(_ context.Context, clusterName string) (cluster.Cluster, error) {
-	p.clustersLock.RLock()
-	defer p.clustersLock.RUnlock()
+	p.lock.RLock()
+	defer p.lock.RUnlock()
 
 	if clusterName == "" {
 		for _, cl := range p.clusters {
@@ -289,8 +297,8 @@ func (p *Provider) Get(_ context.Context, clusterName string) (cluster.Cluster,
 
 // IndexField indexes a field on all clusters.
 func (p *Provider) IndexField(ctx context.Context, obj client.Object, field string, extractValue client.IndexerFunc) error {
-	p.clustersLock.RLock()
-	defer p.clustersLock.RUnlock()
+	p.lock.RLock()
+	defer p.lock.RUnlock()
 
 	for name, cl := range p.clusters {
 		if err := cl.GetCache().IndexField(ctx, obj, field, extractValue); err != nil {
@@ -302,7 +310,7 @@ func (p *Provider) IndexField(ctx context.Context, obj client.Object, field stri
 
 // ClusterNames returns the names of all clusters known to the provider.
 func (p *Provider) ClusterNames() []string {
-	p.clustersLock.RLock()
-	defer p.clustersLock.RUnlock()
+	p.lock.RLock()
+	defer p.lock.RUnlock()
 	return slices.Sorted(maps.Keys(p.clusters))
 }
diff --git a/providers/file/provider_test.go b/providers/file/provider_test.go
index 56d9537..8ce6acd 100644
--- a/providers/file/provider_test.go
+++ b/providers/file/provider_test.go
@@ -54,11 +54,12 @@ var _ = Describe("Provider File", Ordered, func() {
 				KubeconfigDirs:  []string{discoverDir},
 			})
 			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
 		})
 
 		By("Starting the provider", func() {
 			g.Go(func() error {
-				return ignoreCanceled(provider.Run(ctx, nil))
+				return ignoreCanceled(provider.Start(ctx, nil)) // Pass nil for aware since we are not using a manager in this test
 			})
 		})
 
diff --git a/providers/kind/go.mod b/providers/kind/go.mod
index 27454be..c7e67f8 100644
--- a/providers/kind/go.mod
+++ b/providers/kind/go.mod
@@ -16,12 +16,9 @@ require (
 require (
 	github.com/BurntSushi/toml v1.4.0 // indirect
 	github.com/alessio/shellescape v1.4.2 // indirect
-	github.com/beorn7/perks v1.0.1 // indirect
-	github.com/cespare/xxhash/v2 v2.3.0 // indirect
 	github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.2-0.20180830191138-d8f796af33cc // indirect
 	github.com/emicklei/go-restful/v3 v3.11.0 // indirect
 	github.com/evanphx/json-patch/v5 v5.9.11 // indirect
-	github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.7.0 // indirect
 	github.com/fxamacker/cbor/v2 v2.7.0 // indirect
 	github.com/go-openapi/jsonpointer v0.21.0 // indirect
 	github.com/go-openapi/jsonreference v0.20.2 // indirect
@@ -41,10 +38,6 @@ require (
 	github.com/munnerz/goautoneg v0.0.0-20191010083416-a7dc8b61c822 // indirect
 	github.com/pelletier/go-toml v1.9.5 // indirect
 	github.com/pkg/errors v0.9.1 // indirect
-	github.com/prometheus/client_golang v1.22.0 // indirect
-	github.com/prometheus/client_model v0.6.1 // indirect
-	github.com/prometheus/common v0.62.0 // indirect
-	github.com/prometheus/procfs v0.15.1 // indirect
 	github.com/spf13/cobra v1.8.1 // indirect
 	github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.5 // indirect
 	github.com/x448/float16 v0.8.4 // indirect
@@ -54,7 +47,6 @@ require (
 	golang.org/x/term v0.30.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/text v0.23.0 // indirect
 	golang.org/x/time v0.9.0 // indirect
-	gomodules.xyz/jsonpatch/v2 v2.4.0 // indirect
 	google.golang.org/protobuf v1.36.5 // indirect
 	gopkg.in/evanphx/json-patch.v4 v4.12.0 // indirect
 	gopkg.in/inf.v0 v0.9.1 // indirect
diff --git a/providers/kind/go.sum b/providers/kind/go.sum
index 8179ce2..7d3863d 100644
--- a/providers/kind/go.sum
+++ b/providers/kind/go.sum
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@ github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.2-0.20180830191138-d8f796af33cc h1:U9qPSI2PIWSS1
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.2-0.20180830191138-d8f796af33cc/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
 github.com/emicklei/go-restful/v3 v3.11.0 h1:rAQeMHw1c7zTmncogyy8VvRZwtkmkZ4FxERmMY4rD+g=
 github.com/emicklei/go-restful/v3 v3.11.0/go.mod h1:6n3XBCmQQb25CM2LCACGz8ukIrRry+4bhvbpWn3mrbc=
-github.com/evanphx/json-patch v0.5.2 h1:xVCHIVMUu1wtM/VkR9jVZ45N3FhZfYMMYGorLCR8P3k=
-github.com/evanphx/json-patch v0.5.2/go.mod h1:ZWS5hhDbVDyob71nXKNL0+PWn6ToqBHMikGIFbs31qQ=
 github.com/evanphx/json-patch/v5 v5.9.11 h1:/8HVnzMq13/3x9TPvjG08wUGqBTmZBsCWzjTM0wiaDU=
 github.com/evanphx/json-patch/v5 v5.9.11/go.mod h1:3j+LviiESTElxA4p3EMKAB9HXj3/XEtnUf6OZxqIQTM=
 github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.7.0 h1:8JEhPFa5W2WU7YfeZzPNqzMP6Lwt7L2715Ggo0nosvA=
@@ -64,8 +62,6 @@ github.com/json-iterator/go v1.1.12 h1:PV8peI4a0ysnczrg+LtxykD8LfKY9ML6u2jnxaEnr
 github.com/json-iterator/go v1.1.12/go.mod h1:e30LSqwooZae/UwlEbR2852Gd8hjQvJoHmT4TnhNGBo=
 github.com/kisielk/errcheck v1.5.0/go.mod h1:pFxgyoBC7bSaBwPgfKdkLd5X25qrDl4LWUI2bnpBCr8=
 github.com/kisielk/gotool v1.0.0/go.mod h1:XhKaO+MFFWcvkIS/tQcRk01m1F5IRFswLeQ+oQHNcck=
-github.com/klauspost/compress v1.18.0 h1:c/Cqfb0r+Yi+JtIEq73FWXVkRonBlf0CRNYc8Zttxdo=
-github.com/klauspost/compress v1.18.0/go.mod h1:2Pp+KzxcywXVXMr50+X0Q/Lsb43OQHYWRCY2AiWywWQ=
 github.com/kr/pretty v0.2.1/go.mod h1:ipq/a2n7PKx3OHsz4KJII5eveXtPO4qwEXGdVfWzfnI=
 github.com/kr/pretty v0.3.1 h1:flRD4NNwYAUpkphVc1HcthR4KEIFJ65n8Mw5qdRn3LE=
 github.com/kr/pretty v0.3.1/go.mod h1:hoEshYVHaxMs3cyo3Yncou5ZscifuDolrwPKZanG3xk=
@@ -73,8 +69,6 @@ github.com/kr/pty v1.1.1/go.mod h1:pFQYn66WHrOpPYNljwOMqo10TkYh1fy3cYio2l3bCsQ=
 github.com/kr/text v0.1.0/go.mod h1:4Jbv+DJW3UT/LiOwJeYQe1efqtUx/iVham/4vfdArNI=
 github.com/kr/text v0.2.0 h1:5Nx0Ya0ZqY2ygV366QzturHI13Jq95ApcVaJBhpS+AY=
 github.com/kr/text v0.2.0/go.mod h1:eLer722TekiGuMkidMxC/pM04lWEeraHUUmBw8l2grE=
-github.com/kylelemons/godebug v1.1.0 h1:RPNrshWIDI6G2gRW9EHilWtl7Z6Sb1BR0xunSBf0SNc=
-github.com/kylelemons/godebug v1.1.0/go.mod h1:9/0rRGxNHcop5bhtWyNeEfOS8JIWk580+fNqagV/RAw=
 github.com/mailru/easyjson v0.7.7 h1:UGYAvKxe3sBsEDzO8ZeWOSlIQfWFlxbzLZe7hwFURr0=
 github.com/mailru/easyjson v0.7.7/go.mod h1:xzfreul335JAWq5oZzymOObrkdz5UnU4kGfJJLY9Nlc=
 github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.20 h1:xfD0iDuEKnDkl03q4limB+vH+GxLEtL/jb4xVJSWWEY=
diff --git a/providers/kind/provider.go b/providers/kind/provider.go
index 97a7b04..a187bfd 100644
--- a/providers/kind/provider.go
+++ b/providers/kind/provider.go
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/cluster"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/log"
 
-	mcmanager "sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/manager"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/multicluster"
 )
 
@@ -57,6 +56,8 @@ type index struct {
 
 // Provider is a cluster Provider that works with a local Kind instance.
 type Provider struct {
+	mcaware multicluster.Aware
+
 	opts      []cluster.Option
 	log       logr.Logger
 	lock      sync.RWMutex
@@ -76,8 +77,10 @@ func (p *Provider) Get(ctx context.Context, clusterName string) (cluster.Cluster
 	return nil, multicluster.ErrClusterNotFound
 }
 
-// Run starts the provider and blocks.
-func (p *Provider) Run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
+// Start starts the provider and blocks.
+func (p *Provider) Start(ctx context.Context, aware multicluster.Aware) error {
+	p.mcaware = aware
+
 	p.log.Info("Starting kind cluster provider")
 
 	provider := kind.NewProvider()
@@ -152,15 +155,13 @@ func (p *Provider) Run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
 			p.log.Info("Added new cluster", "cluster", clusterName)
 
 			// engage manager
-			if mgr != nil {
-				if err := mgr.Engage(clusterCtx, clusterName, cl); err != nil {
-					log.Error(err, "failed to engage manager")
-					p.lock.Lock()
-					delete(p.clusters, clusterName)
-					delete(p.cancelFns, clusterName)
-					p.lock.Unlock()
-					return false, nil
-				}
+			if err := p.mcaware.Engage(clusterCtx, clusterName, cl); err != nil {
+				log.Error(err, "failed to engage manager")
+				p.lock.Lock()
+				delete(p.clusters, clusterName)
+				delete(p.cancelFns, clusterName)
+				p.lock.Unlock()
+				return false, nil
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/providers/kubeconfig/provider.go b/providers/kubeconfig/provider.go
index c631431..5bb0337 100644
--- a/providers/kubeconfig/provider.go
+++ b/providers/kubeconfig/provider.go
@@ -93,12 +93,12 @@ type index struct {
 // Provider is a cluster provider that watches for secrets containing kubeconfig data
 // and engages clusters based on those kubeconfigs.
 type Provider struct {
-	opts     Options
-	log      logr.Logger
-	lock     sync.RWMutex // protects clusters and indexers
-	clusters map[string]activeCluster
-	indexers []index
-	mgr      mcmanager.Manager
+	opts      Options
+	log       logr.Logger
+	lock      sync.RWMutex // protects clusters and indexers
+	clusters  map[string]activeCluster
+	indexers  []index
+	mcmanager mcmanager.Manager
 }
 
 type activeCluster struct {
@@ -117,6 +117,13 @@ func (p *Provider) getCluster(clusterName string) (activeCluster, bool) {
 	return ac, exists
 }
 
+// Start runs the provider and blocks.
+func (p *Provider) Start(ctx context.Context, aware multicluster.Aware) error {
+	<-ctx.Done()
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // setCluster adds a cluster with write lock
 func (p *Provider) setCluster(clusterName string, ac activeCluster) {
 	p.lock.Lock()
@@ -150,7 +157,7 @@ func (p *Provider) SetupWithManager(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager)
 	if mgr == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("manager is nil")
 	}
-	p.mgr = mgr
+	p.mcmanager = mgr
 
 	// Get the local manager from the multicluster manager
 	localMgr := mgr.GetLocalManager()
@@ -233,7 +240,7 @@ func (p *Provider) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, req ctrl.Request) (ctrl.Result
 // getSecret retrieves a secret and handles not found errors
 func (p *Provider) getSecret(ctx context.Context, namespacedName client.ObjectKey) (*corev1.Secret, error) {
 	secret := &corev1.Secret{}
-	if err := p.mgr.GetLocalManager().GetClient().Get(ctx, namespacedName, secret); err != nil {
+	if err := p.mcmanager.GetLocalManager().GetClient().Get(ctx, namespacedName, secret); err != nil {
 		if apierrors.IsNotFound(err) {
 			return nil, nil // Secret not found is not an error
 		}
@@ -305,7 +312,7 @@ func (p *Provider) createAndEngageCluster(ctx context.Context, clusterName strin
 	log.Info("Successfully added cluster")
 
 	// Engage cluster so that the manager can start operating on the cluster
-	if err := p.mgr.Engage(clusterCtx, clusterName, cl); err != nil {
+	if err := p.mcmanager.Engage(clusterCtx, clusterName, cl); err != nil {
 		log.Error(err, "Failed to engage manager, removing cluster")
 		p.removeCluster(clusterName)
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to engage manager: %w", err)
diff --git a/providers/namespace/provider.go b/providers/namespace/provider.go
index d2d52be..352602f 100644
--- a/providers/namespace/provider.go
+++ b/providers/namespace/provider.go
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/cluster"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/log"
 
-	mcmanager "sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/manager"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/multicluster"
 )
 
@@ -43,6 +42,7 @@ var _ multicluster.Provider = &Provider{}
 // informer to watch objects for all namespaces.
 type Provider struct {
 	cluster cluster.Cluster
+	aware   multicluster.Aware
 
 	log       logr.Logger
 	lock      sync.RWMutex
@@ -60,8 +60,12 @@ func New(cl cluster.Cluster) *Provider {
 	}
 }
 
-// Run starts the provider and blocks.
-func (p *Provider) Run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
+// Start starts the provider and blocks.
+func (p *Provider) Start(ctx context.Context, aware multicluster.Aware) error {
+	p.lock.Lock()
+	p.aware = aware
+	p.lock.Unlock()
+
 	nsInf, err := p.cluster.GetCache().GetInformer(ctx, &corev1.Namespace{})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -88,7 +92,7 @@ func (p *Provider) Run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
 			p.cancelFns[ns.Name] = cancel
 			p.lock.Unlock()
 
-			if err := mgr.Engage(clusterCtx, ns.Name, cl); err != nil {
+			if err := p.aware.Engage(clusterCtx, ns.Name, cl); err != nil {
 				utilruntime.HandleError(fmt.Errorf("failed to engage manager with cluster %q: %w", ns.Name, err))
 
 				// cleanup
diff --git a/providers/namespace/provider_test.go b/providers/namespace/provider_test.go
index aa360a5..e3b42ce 100644
--- a/providers/namespace/provider_test.go
+++ b/providers/namespace/provider_test.go
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Provider Namespace", Ordered, func() {
 			var err error
 			mgr, err = mcmanager.New(cfg, provider, manager.Options{})
 			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
 		})
 
 		By("Setting up the controller feeding the animals", func() {
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Provider Namespace", Ordered, func() {
 
 		By("Starting the provider, cluster, manager, and controller", func() {
 			g.Go(func() error {
-				return ignoreCanceled(provider.Run(ctx, mgr))
+				return ignoreCanceled(provider.Start(ctx, mgr))
 			})
 			g.Go(func() error {
 				return ignoreCanceled(cl.Start(ctx))
diff --git a/providers/nop/provider.go b/providers/nop/provider.go
index 41cb667..67055a0 100644
--- a/providers/nop/provider.go
+++ b/providers/nop/provider.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/cluster"
 
-	mcmanager "sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/manager"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/multicluster"
 )
 
@@ -36,8 +35,8 @@ func New() *Provider {
 	return &Provider{}
 }
 
-// Run starts the provider and blocks.
-func (p *Provider) Run(ctx context.Context, _ mcmanager.Manager) error {
+// Start starts the provider and blocks.
+func (p *Provider) Start(ctx context.Context, aware multicluster.Aware) error {
 	<-ctx.Done()
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/providers/single/provider.go b/providers/single/provider.go
index b3db21c..ab5caba 100644
--- a/providers/single/provider.go
+++ b/providers/single/provider.go
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ package namespace
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/cluster"
 
-	mcmanager "sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/manager"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/multicluster-runtime/pkg/multicluster"
 )
 
@@ -43,9 +43,13 @@ func New(name string, cl cluster.Cluster) *Provider {
 	}
 }
 
-// Run starts the provider and blocks.
-func (p *Provider) Run(ctx context.Context, mgr mcmanager.Manager) error {
-	if err := mgr.Engage(ctx, p.name, p.cl); err != nil {
+// Start starts the provider and blocks.
+func (p *Provider) Start(ctx context.Context, aware multicluster.Aware) error {
+	if aware == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("manager is not set")
+	}
+
+	if err := aware.Engage(ctx, p.name, p.cl); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	<-ctx.Done()