diff --git a/android/vm/src/run.rs b/android/vm/src/run.rs
index eaf2522..a362b8e 100644
--- a/android/vm/src/run.rs
+++ b/android/vm/src/run.rs
@@ -341,11 +341,10 @@
     } else {
         None
     };
+    let vm = VmInstance::create(service, config, console_out, console_in, log, dump_dt)
+        .context("Failed to create VM")?;
     let callback = Box::new(Callback {});
-    let vm =
-        VmInstance::create(service, config, console_out, console_in, log, dump_dt, Some(callback))
-            .context("Failed to create VM")?;
-    vm.start().context("Failed to start VM")?;
+    vm.start(Some(callback)).context("Failed to start VM")?;
 
     let debug_level = get_debug_level(config).unwrap_or(DebugLevel::NONE);
 
diff --git a/guest/rialto/tests/test.rs b/guest/rialto/tests/test.rs
index d68c568..c650046 100644
--- a/guest/rialto/tests/test.rs
+++ b/guest/rialto/tests/test.rs
@@ -338,7 +338,6 @@
         /* consoleIn */ None,
         log,
         /* dump_dt */ None,
-        None,
     )
     .context("Failed to create VM")
 }
diff --git a/guest/trusty/security_vm/launcher/src/main.rs b/guest/trusty/security_vm/launcher/src/main.rs
index 3c8d599..5273d33 100644
--- a/guest/trusty/security_vm/launcher/src/main.rs
+++ b/guest/trusty/security_vm/launcher/src/main.rs
@@ -102,10 +102,9 @@
         None, // console_out
         None, // log
         None, // dump_dt
-        None, // callback
     )
     .context("Failed to create VM")?;
-    vm.start().context("Failed to start VM")?;
+    vm.start(None /* callback */).context("Failed to start VM")?;
 
     println!("started trusty_security_vm_launcher VM");
     let death_reason = vm.wait_for_death();
diff --git a/libs/libavf/src/lib.rs b/libs/libavf/src/lib.rs
index 8a4970a..33bd2d7 100644
--- a/libs/libavf/src/lib.rs
+++ b/libs/libavf/src/lib.rs
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@
     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, None) {
+    match VmInstance::create(service.as_ref(), &config, console_out, console_in, log, 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.
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@
     // 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() {
+    match vm.start(None) {
         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 a52104d..c48c9f6 100644
--- a/libs/libcompos_common/compos_client.rs
+++ b/libs/libcompos_common/compos_client.rs
@@ -150,19 +150,14 @@
 
         // 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")?;
 
-        instance.start()?;
+        let callback = Box::new(Callback {});
+        instance.start(Some(callback))?;
 
         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 667731f..0681a6f 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().context("Failed to start service VM")?;
+        vm.start(None).context("Failed to start service VM")?;
         info!("Service VM started");
 
         // Accepts the connection from the service VM.
@@ -246,8 +246,7 @@
     let console_in = None;
     let log = Some(android_log_fd()?);
     let dump_dt = None;
-    let callback = None;
-    VmInstance::create(service.as_ref(), &config, console_out, console_in, log, dump_dt, callback)
+    VmInstance::create(service.as_ref(), &config, console_out, console_in, log, dump_dt)
         .context("Failed to create service VM")
 }
 
diff --git a/libs/libvmclient/src/lib.rs b/libs/libvmclient/src/lib.rs
index 8dd3cd3..2c6abb5 100644
--- a/libs/libvmclient/src/lib.rs
+++ b/libs/libvmclient/src/lib.rs
@@ -209,7 +209,6 @@
         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);
@@ -226,20 +225,19 @@
 
         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) -> BinderResult<()> {
+    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)?;
         self.vm.start()
     }
 
diff --git a/microfuchsia/microfuchsiad/src/instance_starter.rs b/microfuchsia/microfuchsiad/src/instance_starter.rs
index 55c946e..f58a379 100644
--- a/microfuchsia/microfuchsiad/src/instance_starter.rs
+++ b/microfuchsia/microfuchsiad/src/instance_starter.rs
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@
             console_in,
             /* log= */ None,
             /* dump_dt= */ None,
-            None,
         )
         .context("Failed to create VM")?;
         if let Some(pty) = &pty {
@@ -106,7 +105,7 @@
                 .setHostConsoleName(&pty.follower_name)
                 .context("Setting host console name")?;
         }
-        vm_instance.start().context("Starting VM")?;
+        vm_instance.start(None).context("Starting VM")?;
 
         Ok(MicrofuchsiaInstance {
             _vm_instance: vm_instance,
diff --git a/tests/backcompat_test/src/main.rs b/tests/backcompat_test/src/main.rs
index b0cd042..4d09a89 100644
--- a/tests/backcompat_test/src/main.rs
+++ b/tests/backcompat_test/src/main.rs
@@ -118,10 +118,9 @@
         /* consoleIn */ None,
         None,
         Some(dump_dt),
-        None,
     )
     .context("Failed to create VM")?;
-    vm.start().context("Failed to start VM")?;
+    vm.start(None).context("Failed to start VM")?;
     info!("Started example VM.");
 
     // Wait for VM to finish
diff --git a/tests/early_vm_test/src/main.rs b/tests/early_vm_test/src/main.rs
index a3c80ca..7d630f8 100644
--- a/tests/early_vm_test/src/main.rs
+++ b/tests/early_vm_test/src/main.rs
@@ -96,7 +96,6 @@
         None, // console_out
         None, // log
         None, // dump_dt
-        None, // callback
     )
     .context("Failed to create VM")?;
 
diff --git a/tests/vm_accessor/accessor/src/run.rs b/tests/vm_accessor/accessor/src/run.rs
index 6dcc507..5bdb8f1 100644
--- a/tests/vm_accessor/accessor/src/run.rs
+++ b/tests/vm_accessor/accessor/src/run.rs
@@ -129,10 +129,9 @@
         None,                    /* console_in */
         Some(android_log_fd()?), /* log */
         None,                    /* dump_dt */
-        Some(Box::new(Callback {})),
     )
     .context("Failed to create VM")?;
-    vm.start().context("Failed to start VM")?;
+    vm.start(Some(Box::new(Callback {}))).context("Failed to start VM")?;
 
     info!("started IAccessor VM with CID {}", vm.cid());
 
diff --git a/tests/vmbase_example/src/main.rs b/tests/vmbase_example/src/main.rs
index 81812cd..0eda90e 100644
--- a/tests/vmbase_example/src/main.rs
+++ b/tests/vmbase_example/src/main.rs
@@ -116,10 +116,9 @@
         /* consoleIn */ None,
         Some(log_writer),
         /* dump_dt */ None,
-        None,
     )
     .context("Failed to create VM")?;
-    vm.start().context("Failed to start VM")?;
+    vm.start(None).context("Failed to start VM")?;
     info!("Started example VM.");
 
     // Wait for VM to finish, and check that it shut down cleanly.