diff --git a/network/dag/interface.go b/network/dag/interface.go
index 6f70d8c349..8b96036091 100644
--- a/network/dag/interface.go
+++ b/network/dag/interface.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ var ErrPayloadNotFound = errors.New("payload not found")
 type State interface {
 	core.Diagnosable
 	core.Migratable
+	core.Configurable
 
 	// WritePayload writes contents for the specified payload, identified by the given hash.
 	// It also calls observers and therefore requires the transaction.
diff --git a/network/dag/mock.go b/network/dag/mock.go
index 073c18889e..c244959af3 100644
--- a/network/dag/mock.go
+++ b/network/dag/mock.go
@@ -57,6 +57,20 @@ func (mr *MockStateMockRecorder) Add(ctx, transactions, payload any) *gomock.Cal
 	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "Add", reflect.TypeOf((*MockState)(nil).Add), ctx, transactions, payload)
 }
 
+// Configure mocks base method.
+func (m *MockState) Configure(config core.ServerConfig) error {
+	m.ctrl.T.Helper()
+	ret := m.ctrl.Call(m, "Configure", config)
+	ret0, _ := ret[0].(error)
+	return ret0
+}
+
+// Configure indicates an expected call of Configure.
+func (mr *MockStateMockRecorder) Configure(config any) *gomock.Call {
+	mr.mock.ctrl.T.Helper()
+	return mr.mock.ctrl.RecordCallWithMethodType(mr.mock, "Configure", reflect.TypeOf((*MockState)(nil).Configure), config)
+}
+
 // CorrectStateDetected mocks base method.
 func (m *MockState) CorrectStateDetected() {
 	m.ctrl.T.Helper()
diff --git a/network/dag/state.go b/network/dag/state.go
index 0df79b02f6..81c2edf519 100644
--- a/network/dag/state.go
+++ b/network/dag/state.go
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ func (s *state) updateState(tx stoabs.WriteTx, transaction Transaction) error {
 }
 
 func (s *state) loadState(ctx context.Context) {
-	if err := s.db.Read(ctx, func(tx stoabs.ReadTx) error {
+	err := s.db.Read(ctx, func(tx stoabs.ReadTx) error {
 		s.lamportClockHigh.Store(s.graph.getHighestClockValue(tx))
 		if err := s.xorTree.read(tx); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to read xorTree: %w", err)
@@ -243,10 +243,9 @@ func (s *state) loadState(ctx context.Context) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to read ibltTree: %w", err)
 		}
 		return nil
-	}); err != nil {
-		log.Logger().
-			WithError(err).
-			Errorf("Failed to load the XOR and IBLT trees")
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Logger().WithError(err).Errorf("Failed to load the XOR and IBLT trees")
 	}
 	log.Logger().Trace("Loaded the XOR and IBLT trees")
 }
@@ -394,6 +393,12 @@ func (s *state) CorrectStateDetected() {
 	s.xorTreeRepair.stateOK()
 }
 
+func (s *state) Configure(_ core.ServerConfig) error {
+	// state must be loaded before any migration takes place
+	s.loadState(context.Background())
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (s *state) Shutdown() error {
 	if s.transactionCount != nil {
 		prometheus.Unregister(s.transactionCount)
@@ -405,8 +410,6 @@ func (s *state) Shutdown() error {
 }
 
 func (s *state) Start() error {
-	s.loadState(context.Background())
-
 	err := s.db.Read(context.Background(), func(tx stoabs.ReadTx) error {
 		currentTXCount := s.graph.getNumberOfTransactions(tx)
 		s.transactionCount.Add(float64(currentTXCount))
diff --git a/network/network.go b/network/network.go
index 9a4feb6b4d..b573a71345 100644
--- a/network/network.go
+++ b/network/network.go
@@ -176,6 +176,11 @@ func (n *Network) Configure(config core.ServerConfig) error {
 	if n.state, err = dag.NewState(dagStore, dag.NewPrevTransactionsVerifier(), dag.NewTransactionSignatureVerifier(nutsKeyResolver)); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to configure state: %w", err)
 	}
+	// load state
+	err = n.state.Configure(core.ServerConfig{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	n.strictMode = config.Strictmode
 	n.peerID = transport.PeerID(uuid.New().String())
diff --git a/network/network_test.go b/network/network_test.go
index 04c1c1ea47..9a41c23c54 100644
--- a/network/network_test.go
+++ b/network/network_test.go
@@ -357,7 +357,9 @@ func TestNetwork_Configure(t *testing.T) {
 		prov := storage.NewMockProvider(ctrl)
 		ctx.network.storeProvider = prov
 		ctx.network.connectionManager = nil
-		prov.EXPECT().GetKVStore(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any())
+		store := stoabs.NewMockKVStore(ctrl)
+		store.EXPECT().Read(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any())
+		prov.EXPECT().GetKVStore(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).Return(store, nil)
 		prov.EXPECT().GetKVStore(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).Return(nil, errors.New("failed"))
 
 		err := ctx.network.Configure(core.TestServerConfig(func(config *core.ServerConfig) {