diff --git a/src/lib/gui/MainWindow.cpp b/src/lib/gui/MainWindow.cpp
index ba1c82191c..9c982d879b 100644
--- a/src/lib/gui/MainWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/gui/MainWindow.cpp
@@ -275,7 +275,6 @@ void MainWindow::connectSlots()
   connect(Settings::instance(), &Settings::serverSettingsChanged, this, &MainWindow::serverConfigSaving);
   connect(Settings::instance(), &Settings::settingsChanged, this, &MainWindow::settingsChanged);
 
-  connect(&m_coreProcess, &CoreProcess::starting, this, &MainWindow::coreProcessStarting, Qt::DirectConnection);
   connect(&m_coreProcess, &CoreProcess::error, this, &MainWindow::coreProcessError);
   connect(&m_coreProcess, &CoreProcess::logLine, this, &MainWindow::handleLogLine);
   connect(
@@ -994,6 +993,10 @@ void MainWindow::coreProcessStateChanged(CoreProcessState state)
     m_actionRestartCore->setVisible(true);
     m_actionStopCore->setEnabled(true);
 
+    if (state == CoreProcessState::Starting) {
+      coreProcessStarting();
+    }
+
   } else {
     disconnect(ui->btnToggleCore, &QPushButton::clicked, m_actionStopCore, &QAction::trigger);
     connect(ui->btnToggleCore, &QPushButton::clicked, m_actionStartCore, &QAction::trigger, Qt::UniqueConnection);
diff --git a/src/lib/gui/core/CoreProcess.cpp b/src/lib/gui/core/CoreProcess.cpp
index a1e97711e0..b8e19584c3 100644
--- a/src/lib/gui/core/CoreProcess.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/gui/core/CoreProcess.cpp
@@ -302,13 +302,7 @@ void CoreProcess::start(std::optional<ProcessMode> processModeOption)
 
   qInfo().noquote() << QString("starting %1 process (%2 mode)").arg(coreMode, processModeToString(processMode));
 
-  // allow external listeners to abort the start process (e.g. licensing issue).
   setProcessState(ProcessState::Starting);
-  Q_EMIT starting();
-  if (m_processState == ProcessState::Stopped) {
-    qDebug("core process start was cancelled by listener");
-    return;
-  }
 
 #ifdef Q_OS_MAC
   requestOSXNotificationPermission();
diff --git a/src/lib/gui/core/CoreProcess.h b/src/lib/gui/core/CoreProcess.h
index dd5f0a30f5..34e73f2216 100644
--- a/src/lib/gui/core/CoreProcess.h
+++ b/src/lib/gui/core/CoreProcess.h
@@ -96,7 +96,6 @@ public:
   }
 
 Q_SIGNALS:
-  void starting();
   void error(deskflow::gui::CoreProcess::Error error);
   void logLine(const QString &line);
   void connectionStateChanged(deskflow::gui::CoreProcess::ConnectionState state);