diff --git a/libs/libavf/src/lib.rs b/libs/libavf/src/lib.rs
index 50c5e2e..6532ace 100644
--- a/libs/libavf/src/lib.rs
+++ b/libs/libavf/src/lib.rs
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@
     let console_in = get_file_from_fd(console_in_fd);
     let log = get_file_from_fd(log_fd);
 
-    match VmInstance::create(service.as_ref(), &config, console_out, console_in, log, None) {
+    match VmInstance::create(service.as_ref(), &config, console_out, console_in, log, None, None) {
         Ok(vm) => {
             // SAFETY: `vm_ptr` is assumed to be a valid, non-null pointer to a mutable raw pointer.
             // `vm` is the only reference here and `vm_ptr` takes ownership.
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@
     // SAFETY: `vm` is assumed to be a valid, non-null pointer returned by
     // `AVirtualMachine_createRaw`. It's the only reference to the object.
     let vm = unsafe { &*vm };
-    match vm.start(None) {
+    match vm.start() {
         Ok(_) => 0,
         Err(e) => {
             error!("AVirtualMachine_start failed: {e:?}");
diff --git a/libs/libcompos_common/compos_client.rs b/libs/libcompos_common/compos_client.rs
index c2b4936..6872582 100644
--- a/libs/libcompos_common/compos_client.rs
+++ b/libs/libcompos_common/compos_client.rs
@@ -148,14 +148,19 @@
 
         // Let logs go to logcat.
         let (console_fd, log_fd) = (None, None);
+        let callback = Box::new(Callback {});
         let instance = VmInstance::create(
-            service, &config, console_fd, /* console_in_fd */ None, log_fd,
+            service,
+            &config,
+            console_fd,
+            /* console_in_fd */ None,
+            log_fd,
             /* dump_dt */ None,
+            Some(callback),
         )
         .context("Failed to create VM")?;
 
-        let callback = Box::new(Callback {});
-        instance.start(Some(callback))?;
+        instance.start()?;
 
         let ready = instance.wait_until_ready(TIMEOUTS.vm_max_time_to_ready);
         if ready == Err(VmWaitError::Finished) && debug_level != DebugLevel::NONE {
diff --git a/libs/libservice_vm_manager/src/lib.rs b/libs/libservice_vm_manager/src/lib.rs
index 77e7a4a..0f322bb 100644
--- a/libs/libservice_vm_manager/src/lib.rs
+++ b/libs/libservice_vm_manager/src/lib.rs
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@
         let vsock_listener = VsockListener::bind_with_cid_port(VMADDR_CID_HOST, vm_type.port())?;
 
         // Starts the service VM.
-        vm.start(None).context("Failed to start service VM")?;
+        vm.start().context("Failed to start service VM")?;
         info!("Service VM started");
 
         // Accepts the connection from the service VM.
@@ -245,7 +245,8 @@
     let console_in = None;
     let log = Some(android_log_fd()?);
     let dump_dt = None;
-    VmInstance::create(service.as_ref(), &config, console_out, console_in, log, dump_dt)
+    let callback = None;
+    VmInstance::create(service.as_ref(), &config, console_out, console_in, log, dump_dt, callback)
         .context("Failed to create service VM")
 }
 
diff --git a/libs/libvmclient/src/lib.rs b/libs/libvmclient/src/lib.rs
index 2c6abb5..8dd3cd3 100644
--- a/libs/libvmclient/src/lib.rs
+++ b/libs/libvmclient/src/lib.rs
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@
         console_in: Option<File>,
         log: Option<File>,
         dump_dt: Option<File>,
+        callback: Option<Box<dyn VmCallback + Send + Sync>>,
     ) -> BinderResult<Self> {
         let console_out = console_out.map(ParcelFileDescriptor::new);
         let console_in = console_in.map(ParcelFileDescriptor::new);
@@ -225,19 +226,20 @@
 
         let cid = vm.getCid()?;
 
+        // Register callback before starting VM, in case it dies immediately.
         let state = Arc::new(Monitor::new(VmState::default()));
+        let callback = BnVirtualMachineCallback::new_binder(
+            VirtualMachineCallback { state: state.clone(), client_callback: callback },
+            BinderFeatures::default(),
+        );
+        vm.registerCallback(&callback)?;
         let death_recipient = wait_for_binder_death(&mut vm.as_binder(), state.clone())?;
 
         Ok(Self { vm, cid, state, _death_recipient: death_recipient })
     }
 
     /// Starts the VM.
-    pub fn start(&self, callback: Option<Box<dyn VmCallback + Send + Sync>>) -> BinderResult<()> {
-        let callback = BnVirtualMachineCallback::new_binder(
-            VirtualMachineCallback { state: self.state.clone(), client_callback: callback },
-            BinderFeatures::default(),
-        );
-        self.vm.registerCallback(&callback)?;
+    pub fn start(&self) -> BinderResult<()> {
         self.vm.start()
     }