diff --git a/cmd/group.go b/cmd/group.go
index 722ec4aa5929631e7b3bad96c67e09db9a57d23d..b8064fcb67df8c94c334017023449d1c6e8f99e9 100644
--- a/cmd/group.go
+++ b/cmd/group.go
@@ -38,14 +38,14 @@ var groupCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 		_, _ = initClientCallbacks(client)
 
-		// Initialize the group chat manager
-		groupManager, recChan, reqChan := initGroupManager(client)
-
 		_, err := client.StartNetworkFollower(5 * time.Second)
 		if err != nil {
 			jww.FATAL.Panicf("%+v", err)
 		}
 
+		// Initialize the group chat manager
+		groupManager, recChan, reqChan := initGroupManager(client)
+
 		// Wait until connected or crash on timeout
 		connected := make(chan bool, 10)
 		client.GetHealth().AddChannel(connected)