diff --git a/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service.go b/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service.go
index 953e7ab762..0a969b89e2 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service.go
@@ -49,30 +49,29 @@ type Service struct {
 	synced       *abool.AtomicBool
 	chainStarted *abool.AtomicBool
 	counter      *ratecounter.RateCounter
-	genesisChan  chan time.Time
 }
 
 // NewService configures the initial sync service responsible for bringing the node up to the
 // latest head of the blockchain.
 func NewService(ctx context.Context, cfg *Config) *Service {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
-	s := &Service{
+	return &Service{
 		cfg:          cfg,
 		ctx:          ctx,
 		cancel:       cancel,
 		synced:       abool.New(),
 		chainStarted: abool.New(),
 		counter:      ratecounter.NewRateCounter(counterSeconds * time.Second),
-		genesisChan:  make(chan time.Time),
 	}
-	go s.waitForStateInitialization()
-	return s
 }
 
 // Start the initial sync service.
 func (s *Service) Start() {
-	// Wait for state initialized event.
-	genesis := <-s.genesisChan
+	genesis, err := s.waitForStateInitialization()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.WithError(err).Fatal("Failed to wait for state initialization.")
+		return
+	}
 	if genesis.IsZero() {
 		log.Debug("Exiting Initial Sync Service")
 		return
@@ -180,9 +179,10 @@ func (s *Service) waitForMinimumPeers() {
 	}
 }
 
+// TODO: Return error
 // waitForStateInitialization makes sure that beacon node is ready to be accessed: it is either
 // already properly configured or system waits up until state initialized event is triggered.
-func (s *Service) waitForStateInitialization() {
+func (s *Service) waitForStateInitialization() (time.Time, error) {
 	// Wait for state to be initialized.
 	stateChannel := make(chan *feed.Event, 1)
 	stateSub := s.cfg.StateNotifier.StateFeed().Subscribe(stateChannel)
@@ -198,19 +198,14 @@ func (s *Service) waitForStateInitialization() {
 					continue
 				}
 				log.WithField("starttime", data.StartTime).Debug("Received state initialized event")
-				s.genesisChan <- data.StartTime
-				return
+				return data.StartTime, nil
 			}
 		case <-s.ctx.Done():
-			log.Debug("Context closed, exiting goroutine")
 			// Send a zero time in the event we are exiting.
-			s.genesisChan <- time.Time{}
-			return
+			return time.Time{}, errors.New("context closed, exiting goroutine")
 		case err := <-stateSub.Err():
-			log.WithError(err).Error("Subscription to state notifier failed")
 			// Send a zero time in the event we are exiting.
-			s.genesisChan <- time.Time{}
-			return
+			return time.Time{}, errors.Wrap(err, "subscription to state notifier failed")
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service_test.go b/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service_test.go
index f9d9ba9847..d4d3151fcd 100644
--- a/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service_test.go
+++ b/beacon-chain/sync/initial-sync/service_test.go
@@ -168,11 +168,7 @@ func TestService_InitStartStop(t *testing.T) {
 				Chain:         mc,
 				StateNotifier: notifier,
 			})
-			time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
 			assert.NotNil(t, s)
-			if tt.methodRuns != nil {
-				tt.methodRuns(notifier.StateFeed())
-			}
 
 			wg := &sync.WaitGroup{}
 			wg.Add(1)
@@ -181,6 +177,11 @@ func TestService_InitStartStop(t *testing.T) {
 				wg.Done()
 			}()
 
+			time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
+			if tt.methodRuns != nil {
+				tt.methodRuns(notifier.StateFeed())
+			}
+
 			go func() {
 				// Allow to exit from test (on no head loop waiting for head is started).
 				// In most tests, this is redundant, as Start() already exited.
@@ -207,7 +208,6 @@ func TestService_waitForStateInitialization(t *testing.T) {
 			synced:       abool.New(),
 			chainStarted: abool.New(),
 			counter:      ratecounter.NewRateCounter(counterSeconds * time.Second),
-			genesisChan:  make(chan time.Time),
 		}
 		return s
 	}
@@ -221,9 +221,8 @@ func TestService_waitForStateInitialization(t *testing.T) {
 		wg := &sync.WaitGroup{}
 		wg.Add(1)
 		go func() {
-			go s.waitForStateInitialization()
-			currTime := <-s.genesisChan
-			assert.Equal(t, true, currTime.IsZero())
+			_, err := s.waitForStateInitialization()
+			assert.ErrorContains(t, "context closed", err)
 			wg.Done()
 		}()
 		go func() {
@@ -236,8 +235,6 @@ func TestService_waitForStateInitialization(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("Test should have exited by now, timed out")
 		}
 		assert.LogsContain(t, hook, "Waiting for state to be initialized")
-		assert.LogsContain(t, hook, "Context closed, exiting goroutine")
-		assert.LogsDoNotContain(t, hook, "Subscription to state notifier failed")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("no state and state init event received", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -251,8 +248,9 @@ func TestService_waitForStateInitialization(t *testing.T) {
 		wg := &sync.WaitGroup{}
 		wg.Add(1)
 		go func() {
-			go s.waitForStateInitialization()
-			receivedGenesisTime = <-s.genesisChan
+			var err error
+			receivedGenesisTime, err = s.waitForStateInitialization()
+			require.NoError(t, err)
 			assert.Equal(t, false, receivedGenesisTime.IsZero())
 			wg.Done()
 		}()
@@ -281,7 +279,6 @@ func TestService_waitForStateInitialization(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.LogsContain(t, hook, "Event feed data is not type *statefeed.InitializedData")
 		assert.LogsContain(t, hook, "Waiting for state to be initialized")
 		assert.LogsContain(t, hook, "Received state initialized event")
-		assert.LogsDoNotContain(t, hook, "Context closed, exiting goroutine")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("no state and state init event received and service start", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -296,7 +293,8 @@ func TestService_waitForStateInitialization(t *testing.T) {
 		wg := &sync.WaitGroup{}
 		wg.Add(1)
 		go func() {
-			s.waitForStateInitialization()
+			_, err := s.waitForStateInitialization()
+			require.NoError(t, err)
 			wg.Done()
 		}()
 
@@ -321,7 +319,6 @@ func TestService_waitForStateInitialization(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		assert.LogsContain(t, hook, "Waiting for state to be initialized")
 		assert.LogsContain(t, hook, "Received state initialized event")
-		assert.LogsDoNotContain(t, hook, "Context closed, exiting goroutine")
 	})
 }