diff --git a/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/api/CoreMoneroConnectionsService.java b/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/api/CoreMoneroConnectionsService.java
index c70491cc..9e0ea456 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/api/CoreMoneroConnectionsService.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/api/CoreMoneroConnectionsService.java
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ public final class CoreMoneroConnectionsService {
                 else connectionManager.setAutoSwitch(true);
 
                 // start local node if used last and offline
-                startLocalNodeIfUsedLast();
+                maybeStartLocalNode();
 
                 // update connection
                 if (connectionManager.getConnection() == null || connectionManager.getAutoSwitch()) {
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ public final class CoreMoneroConnectionsService {
                 connectionManager.setConnection(connection);
 
                 // start local node if used last and offline
-                startLocalNodeIfUsedLast();
+                maybeStartLocalNode();
 
                 // update connection
                 checkConnection();
@@ -472,7 +472,10 @@ public final class CoreMoneroConnectionsService {
         }
     }
 
-    private void startLocalNodeIfUsedLast() {
+    private void maybeStartLocalNode() {
+
+        // skip if seed node
+        if (HavenoUtils.havenoSetup == null) return;
 
         // start local node if offline and used as last connection
         if (connectionManager.getConnection() != null && nodeService.equalsUri(connectionManager.getConnection().getUri()) && !nodeService.isOnline()) {
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/trade/HavenoUtils.java b/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/trade/HavenoUtils.java
index a569184b..6e86f3b5 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/trade/HavenoUtils.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/haveno/core/trade/HavenoUtils.java
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public class HavenoUtils {
     private static final int POOL_SIZE = 10;
     private static final ExecutorService POOL = Executors.newFixedThreadPool(POOL_SIZE);
 
-    // TODO: better way to share refernces?
+    // TODO: better way to share references?
     public static ArbitrationManager arbitrationManager;
     public static HavenoSetup havenoSetup;