diff --git a/.changelog/unreleased/bug-fixes/2310-wait-for-genesis-time.md b/.changelog/unreleased/bug-fixes/2310-wait-for-genesis-time.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0d8c8ab34f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/unreleased/bug-fixes/2310-wait-for-genesis-time.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ - Make the ledger wait for genesis before starting up any processes ([\#2310](https://github.com/anoma/namada/pull/2310))
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/apps/src/lib/node/ledger/mod.rs b/apps/src/lib/node/ledger/mod.rs
index 11bd75aba5..c5188f5c7b 100644
--- a/apps/src/lib/node/ledger/mod.rs
+++ b/apps/src/lib/node/ledger/mod.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use futures::future::TryFutureExt;
 use namada::core::ledger::governance::storage::keys as governance_storage;
 use namada::eth_bridge::ethers::providers::{Http, Provider};
 use namada::types::storage::Key;
+use namada::types::time::{DateTimeUtc, Utc};
 use namada_sdk::tendermint::abci::request::CheckTxKind;
 use once_cell::unsync::Lazy;
 use sysinfo::{RefreshKind, System, SystemExt};
@@ -241,6 +242,12 @@ pub fn rollback(config: config::Ledger) -> Result<(), shell::Error> {
 ///
 /// All must be alive for correct functioning.
 async fn run_aux(config: config::Ledger, wasm_dir: PathBuf) {
+    // wait for genesis time
+    let genesis_time = DateTimeUtc::try_from(config.genesis_time.clone())
+        .expect("Should be able to parse genesis time");
+    if let std::ops::ControlFlow::Break(_) = sleep_until(genesis_time).await {
+        return;
+    }
     let setup_data = run_aux_setup(&config, &wasm_dir).await;
 
     // Create an `AbortableSpawner` for signalling shut down from the shell or
@@ -748,3 +755,36 @@ async fn maybe_start_ethereum_oracle(
 fn spawn_dummy_task<T: Send + 'static>(ready: T) -> task::JoinHandle<T> {
     tokio::spawn(async { std::future::ready(ready).await })
 }
+
+/// Sleep until the genesis time if necessary.
+async fn sleep_until(time: DateTimeUtc) -> std::ops::ControlFlow<()> {
+    // Sleep until start time if needed
+    let sleep = async {
+        if let Ok(sleep_time) =
+            time.0.signed_duration_since(Utc::now()).to_std()
+        {
+            if !sleep_time.is_zero() {
+                tracing::info!(
+                    "Waiting for ledger genesis time: {:?}, time left: {:?}",
+                    time,
+                    sleep_time
+                );
+                tokio::time::sleep(sleep_time).await
+            }
+        }
+    };
+    let shutdown_signal = async {
+        let (tx, rx) = tokio::sync::oneshot::channel();
+        namada_sdk::control_flow::shutdown_send(tx).await;
+        rx.await
+    };
+    tokio::select! {
+        _ = shutdown_signal => {
+            std::ops::ControlFlow::Break(())
+        }
+        _ = sleep => {
+            tracing::info!("Genesis time reached, starting ledger");
+            std::ops::ControlFlow::Continue(())
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/sdk/src/control_flow/mod.rs b/sdk/src/control_flow/mod.rs
index 9b75b6e921..42294d5191 100644
--- a/sdk/src/control_flow/mod.rs
+++ b/sdk/src/control_flow/mod.rs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ pub fn install_shutdown_signal() -> ShutdownSignal {
 }
 
 #[cfg(unix)]
-async fn shutdown_send(tx: oneshot::Sender<()>) {
+pub async fn shutdown_send(tx: oneshot::Sender<()>) {
     use tokio::signal::unix::{signal, SignalKind};
     let mut sigterm = signal(SignalKind::terminate()).unwrap();
     let mut sighup = signal(SignalKind::hangup()).unwrap();
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ async fn shutdown_send(tx: oneshot::Sender<()>) {
 }
 
 #[cfg(windows)]
-async fn shutdown_send(tx: oneshot::Sender<()>) {
+pub async fn shutdown_send(tx: oneshot::Sender<()>) {
     let mut sigbreak = tokio::signal::windows::ctrl_break().unwrap();
     tokio::select! {
         signal = tokio::signal::ctrl_c() => {