diff --git a/backend/src/index.ts b/backend/src/index.ts
index dc1bbb115..69304f84e 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@ async function main() {
   })
 
   // start DHT hyperswarm when DHT_TOPIC is set in .env
-  if (CONFIG.DHT_TOPIC) {
-    await startDHT(CONFIG.DHT_TOPIC) // con,
+  if (CONFIG.FEDERATE_DHT_TOPIC) {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+    console.log(`Federation/DHT active on ${CONFIG.FEDERATE_DHT_TOPIC}`)
+    await startDHT(CONFIG.FEDERATE_DHT_TOPIC) // con,
   }
 }