diff --git a/packages/core/build/flecks.hooks.js b/packages/core/build/flecks.hooks.js
index 5780b9d..8050451 100644
--- a/packages/core/build/flecks.hooks.js
+++ b/packages/core/build/flecks.hooks.js
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ export const hooks = {
   },
 
   /**
-   * Invoked when the application is starting. Use for order-independent initialization tasks.
+   * Invoked when the application is starting. Use for startup tasks.
    */
   '@flecks/core.starting': () => {
     console.log('starting!');
diff --git a/packages/core/build/flecks.js b/packages/core/build/flecks.js
index 6482f1b..58c9e2c 100644
--- a/packages/core/build/flecks.js
+++ b/packages/core/build/flecks.js
@@ -369,6 +369,7 @@ exports.Flecks = class Flecks {
     const Flecks = compose(...mixinDescription.map(([, mixin]) => mixin))(this);
     const instance = new Flecks(runtime);
     await instance.gatherHooks();
+    await instance.invokeSequentialAsync('@flecks/core.starting');
     return instance;
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/server/package.json b/packages/server/package.json
index 4221197..604e28e 100644
--- a/packages/server/package.json
+++ b/packages/server/package.json
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
     "runtime.js"
   ],
   "dependencies": {
-    "@flecks/core": "^3.1.0"
+    "@flecks/core": "^3.1.3"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@flecks/build": "^3.1.3",
diff --git a/packages/server/src/entry.js b/packages/server/src/entry.js
index 7a96e60..570194b 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/entry.js
+++ b/packages/server/src/entry.js
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ const {version} = require('../package.json');
   debug('starting server...');
   try {
     global.flecks = await Flecks.from({...runtime, flecks: await loadFlecks()});
-    await Promise.all(global.flecks.invokeFlat('@flecks/core.starting'));
     await global.flecks.invokeSequentialAsync('@flecks/server.up');
     debug('up!');
   }
diff --git a/packages/web/src/server/build/entry.js b/packages/web/src/server/build/entry.js
index d89109b..86cf56d 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/server/build/entry.js
+++ b/packages/web/src/server/build/entry.js
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ const {version} = require('@flecks/web/package.json');
   try {
     const flecks = await Flecks.from(runtime);
     window.flecks = flecks;
-    await Promise.all(flecks.invokeFlat('@flecks/core.starting'));
     await flecks.invokeSequentialAsync('@flecks/web/client.up');
     const appMountContainerId = `#${config['@flecks/web'].appMountId}-container`;
     window.document.querySelector(appMountContainerId).style.display = 'block';