diff --git a/backend/src/index.ts b/backend/src/index.ts
index 86f78326d..4961e880d 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import { createServer } from './server/createServer'
 async function main() {
   const { app } = await createServer()
 
+  void startValidateCommunities(Number(CONFIG.FEDERATION_VALIDATE_COMMUNITY_TIMER))
+  // app listen don't return as long as the express server is running
   app.listen(CONFIG.PORT, () => {
     // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
     console.log(`Server is running at http://localhost:${CONFIG.PORT}`)
@@ -13,7 +15,6 @@ async function main() {
       console.log(`GraphIQL available at http://localhost:${CONFIG.PORT}`)
     }
   })
-  void startValidateCommunities(Number(CONFIG.FEDERATION_VALIDATE_COMMUNITY_TIMER))
 }
 
 main().catch((e) => {