diff --git a/service/jni/com_android_server_BpfNetMaps.cpp b/service/jni/com_android_server_BpfNetMaps.cpp
index 113c449..bde52a5 100644
--- a/service/jni/com_android_server_BpfNetMaps.cpp
+++ b/service/jni/com_android_server_BpfNetMaps.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@
 namespace android {
 
 static void native_init(JNIEnv* env, jobject clazz) {
-  Status status = mTc.start();
+  // start is still being called by netd
+  Status status = mTc.initMaps();
    if (!isOk(status)) {
     ALOGE("%s failed", __func__);
   }
diff --git a/service/native/include/TrafficController.h b/service/native/include/TrafficController.h
index ddcf445..2d89344 100644
--- a/service/native/include/TrafficController.h
+++ b/service/native/include/TrafficController.h
@@ -32,14 +32,22 @@
 using netdutils::StatusOr;
 
 class TrafficController {
-  public:
-    static constexpr char DUMP_KEYWORD[] = "trafficcontroller";
-
+    // TODO: marking this private for right now, as start is already called by
+    // netd. start() calls initMaps(), initPrograms(), and sets up the socket
+    // destroy listener. Both initPrograms() and setting up the socket destroy
+    // listener should only be done once.
     /*
      * Initialize the whole controller
      */
     netdutils::Status start();
 
+  public:
+    static constexpr char DUMP_KEYWORD[] = "trafficcontroller";
+
+    // TODO: marking this public for right now, as start() is already called by
+    // netd.
+    netdutils::Status initMaps() EXCLUDES(mMutex);
+
     int setCounterSet(int counterSetNum, uid_t uid, uid_t callingUid) EXCLUDES(mMutex);
 
     /*
@@ -187,8 +195,6 @@
 
     std::mutex mMutex;
 
-    netdutils::Status initMaps() EXCLUDES(mMutex);
-
     // Keep track of uids that have permission UPDATE_DEVICE_STATS so we don't
     // need to call back to system server for permission check.
     std::set<uid_t> mPrivilegedUser GUARDED_BY(mMutex);