diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index 88456e4482..a2c0baf8bc 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ func (s *Ethereum) Start() error {
 	}
 
 	// Start services
-	s.txPool.Start()
+	go s.txPool.Start()
 
 	if s.whisper != nil {
 		s.whisper.Start()