diff --git a/heron/executor/src/python/heron_executor.py b/heron/executor/src/python/heron_executor.py
index 78a0c0a..c01e48b 100755
--- a/heron/executor/src/python/heron_executor.py
+++ b/heron/executor/src/python/heron_executor.py
@@ -900,8 +900,11 @@
     statemgr_config.set_state_locations(configloader.load_state_manager_locations(self.cluster))
     try:
       self.state_managers = statemanagerfactory.get_all_state_managers(statemgr_config)
+      for state_manager in self.state_managers:
+        state_manager.start()
     except Exception as ex:
       Log.error("Found exception while initializing state managers: %s. Bailing out..." % ex)
+      traceback.print_exc()
       sys.exit(1)
 
     # pylint: disable=unused-argument
diff --git a/heron/statemgrs/src/python/statemanagerfactory.py b/heron/statemgrs/src/python/statemanagerfactory.py
index c29b84f..cfdb761 100644
--- a/heron/statemgrs/src/python/statemanagerfactory.py
+++ b/heron/statemgrs/src/python/statemanagerfactory.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 '''
 
 import os
-import traceback
 
 
 from heron.statemgrs.src.python.filestatemanager import FileStateManager
@@ -43,8 +42,8 @@
 
 def get_all_zk_state_managers(conf):
   """
-  Connects to all the zookeeper state_managers and returns
-  the connected state_managers instances.
+  Creates all the zookeeper state_managers and returns
+  them in a list
   """
   state_managers = []
   state_locations = conf.get_state_locations_of_type("zookeeper")
@@ -67,12 +66,6 @@
     rootpath = location['rootpath']
     LOG.info("Connecting to zk hostports: " + str(hostportlist) + " rootpath: " + rootpath)
     state_manager = ZkStateManager(name, hostportlist, rootpath, tunnelhost)
-    try:
-      state_manager.start()
-    except Exception as ex:
-      LOG.error("Exception while connecting to state_manager.")
-      LOG.debug(traceback.format_exc())
-      raise ex
     state_managers.append(state_manager)
 
   return state_managers
@@ -88,12 +81,6 @@
     rootpath = os.path.expanduser(location['rootpath'])
     LOG.info("Connecting to file state with rootpath: " + rootpath)
     state_manager = FileStateManager(name, rootpath)
-    try:
-      state_manager.start()
-    except Exception as ex:
-      LOG.error("Exception while connecting to state_manager.")
-      traceback.print_exc()
-      raise ex
     state_managers.append(state_manager)
 
   return state_managers
diff --git a/heron/tools/tracker/src/python/tracker.py b/heron/tools/tracker/src/python/tracker.py
index 429e634..88ea502 100644
--- a/heron/tools/tracker/src/python/tracker.py
+++ b/heron/tools/tracker/src/python/tracker.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 ''' tracker.py '''
 import json
+import sys
+import traceback
 
 from functools import partial
 
@@ -54,6 +56,13 @@
     Sync the topologies with the statemgrs.
     """
     self.state_managers = statemanagerfactory.get_all_state_managers(self.config.statemgr_config)
+    try:
+      for state_manager in self.state_managers:
+        state_manager.start()
+    except Exception as ex:
+      Log.error("Found exception while initializing state managers: %s. Bailing out..." % ex)
+      traceback.print_exc()
+      sys.exit(1)
 
     # pylint: disable=deprecated-lambda
     def on_topologies_watch(state_manager, topologies):