diff --git a/node/pkg/common/guardianset.go b/node/pkg/common/guardianset.go
index ea153a90d4..324c26c9db 100644
--- a/node/pkg/common/guardianset.go
+++ b/node/pkg/common/guardianset.go
@@ -214,3 +214,8 @@ func (st *GuardianSetState) Cleanup() {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// IsSubscribedToHeartbeats returns true if the heartbeat update channel is set.
+func (st *GuardianSetState) IsSubscribedToHeartbeats() bool {
+	return st.updateC != nil
+}
diff --git a/node/pkg/common/guardianset_test.go b/node/pkg/common/guardianset_test.go
index 0112c38eee..7b6e4c2630 100644
--- a/node/pkg/common/guardianset_test.go
+++ b/node/pkg/common/guardianset_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
+	gossipv1 "github.com/certusone/wormhole/node/pkg/proto/gossip/v1"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/wormhole-foundation/wormhole/sdk/vaa"
@@ -122,3 +123,12 @@ func TestGet(t *testing.T) {
 	gss.Set(&gs)
 	assert.Equal(t, gss.Get(), &gs)
 }
+
+func TestIsSubscribedToHeartbeats(t *testing.T) {
+	heartbeatC := make(chan *gossipv1.Heartbeat, 20000)
+	gst1 := NewGuardianSetState(heartbeatC)
+	assert.True(t, gst1.IsSubscribedToHeartbeats())
+
+	gst2 := NewGuardianSetState(nil)
+	assert.False(t, gst2.IsSubscribedToHeartbeats())
+}
diff --git a/node/pkg/p2p/p2p.go b/node/pkg/p2p/p2p.go
index 6ff1e65703..b5ff281b22 100644
--- a/node/pkg/p2p/p2p.go
+++ b/node/pkg/p2p/p2p.go
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ func Run(params *RunParams) func(ctx context.Context) error {
 		var controlSubscription, attestationSubscription, vaaSubscription *pubsub.Subscription
 
 		// Set up the control channel. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-		if params.nodeName != "" || params.gossipControlSendC != nil || params.obsvReqSendC != nil || params.obsvReqRecvC != nil || params.signedGovCfgRecvC != nil || params.signedGovStatusRecvC != nil {
+		if params.nodeName != "" || params.gossipControlSendC != nil || params.obsvReqSendC != nil || params.obsvReqRecvC != nil || params.signedGovCfgRecvC != nil || params.signedGovStatusRecvC != nil || params.gst.IsSubscribedToHeartbeats() {
 			controlTopic := fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", params.networkID, "control")
 			logger.Info("joining the control topic", zap.String("topic", controlTopic))
 			controlPubsubTopic, err = ps.Join(controlTopic)
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ func Run(params *RunParams) func(ctx context.Context) error {
 				}
 			}()
 
-			if params.obsvReqRecvC != nil || params.signedGovCfgRecvC != nil || params.signedGovStatusRecvC != nil {
+			if params.obsvReqRecvC != nil || params.signedGovCfgRecvC != nil || params.signedGovStatusRecvC != nil || params.gst.IsSubscribedToHeartbeats() {
 				logger.Info("subscribing to the control topic", zap.String("topic", controlTopic))
 				controlSubscription, err = controlPubsubTopic.Subscribe(pubsub.WithBufferSize(P2P_SUBSCRIPTION_BUFFER_SIZE))
 				if err != nil {