diff --git a/src/Dapr/ChatServer.Host/ChatServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs b/src/Dapr/ChatServer.Host/ChatServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e478362e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Dapr/ChatServer.Host/ChatServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+// <copyright file="ChatServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs" company="MUnique">
+// Licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE file in the project root for full license information.
+// </copyright>
+
+namespace MUnique.OpenMU.ChatServer.Host;
+
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Threading;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
+using MUnique.OpenMU.Dapr.Common;
+using MUnique.OpenMU.DataModel.Configuration;
+using MUnique.OpenMU.PlugIns;
+using ChatServer = MUnique.OpenMU.ChatServer.ChatServer;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// A wrapper which takes a <see cref="ChatServer"/> and wraps it as <see cref="IHostedLifecycleService"/>,
+/// so that additional initialization can be done before actually starting it.
+/// The actual server start is deferred to <see cref="StartedAsync"/> which is called after the web application
+/// has started (i.e. the HTTP API is already available), breaking the circular startup dependency with the Dapr sidecar.
+/// TODO: listen to configuration changes/database reinit.
+/// See also: ServerContainerBase.
+/// </summary>
+public class ChatServerHostedServiceWrapper : IHostedLifecycleService
+{
+    private readonly IServiceProvider _serviceProvider;
+    private ChatServer? _chatServer;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="ChatServerHostedServiceWrapper"/> class.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="serviceProvider">The service provider.</param>
+    public ChatServerHostedServiceWrapper(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)
+    {
+        this._serviceProvider = serviceProvider;
+    }
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task StartingAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public async Task StartedAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await this._serviceProvider.WaitForDatabaseInitializationAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        if (this._serviceProvider.GetService<ICollection<PlugInConfiguration>>() is { } plugInCollection)
+        {
+            if (plugInCollection is not List<PlugInConfiguration> plugInConfigurations)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException($"The registered {nameof(ICollection<PlugInConfiguration>)} must be a {nameof(List<PlugInConfiguration>)} to be able to load plugin configurations.");
+            }
+
+            await this._serviceProvider.TryLoadPlugInConfigurationsAsync(plugInConfigurations).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+
+        var settings = this._serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<ChatServerDefinition>().ConvertToSettings();
+        this._chatServer = this._serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<ChatServer>();
+        this._chatServer.Initialize(settings);
+        await this._chatServer.StartAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task StoppingAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        return this._chatServer?.StopAsync(cancellationToken) ?? Task.CompletedTask;
+    }
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task StoppedAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+}
diff --git a/src/Dapr/ChatServer.Host/Program.cs b/src/Dapr/ChatServer.Host/Program.cs
index 42392a3f4..612fdebe7 100644
--- a/src/Dapr/ChatServer.Host/Program.cs
+++ b/src/Dapr/ChatServer.Host/Program.cs
@@ -4,12 +4,11 @@
 
 using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
 
-using MUnique.OpenMU.ChatServer;
 using MUnique.OpenMU.ChatServer.Host;
 using MUnique.OpenMU.Dapr.Common;
 using MUnique.OpenMU.DataModel.Configuration;
-using MUnique.OpenMU.Network;
 using MUnique.OpenMU.PlugIns;
+using ChatServer = MUnique.OpenMU.ChatServer.ChatServer;
 
 var plugInConfigurations = new List<PlugInConfiguration>();
 var builder = DaprService.CreateBuilder("ChatServer", args);
@@ -22,13 +21,7 @@
     .AddIpResolver(args)
     .AddPersistentSingleton<ChatServerDefinition>();
 
-services.AddHostedService(p =>
-{
-    var settings = p.GetService<ChatServerDefinition>()?.ConvertToSettings() ?? throw new Exception($"{nameof(ChatServerSettings)} not registered.");
-    var chatServer = p.GetService<ChatServer>()!;
-    chatServer.Initialize(settings);
-    return chatServer;
-});
+services.AddHostedService<ChatServerHostedServiceWrapper>();
 
 services.PublishManageableServer<ChatServer>();
 
@@ -37,9 +30,6 @@
 builder.AddOpenTelemetryMetrics(metricsRegistry);
 
 var app = builder.BuildAndConfigure();
-
-await app.WaitForUpdatedDatabaseAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
-
-await app.Services.TryLoadPlugInConfigurationsAsync(plugInConfigurations).ConfigureAwait(false);
+await app.WaitForDatabaseConnectionInitializationAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
 
 app.Run();
diff --git a/src/Dapr/Common/Extensions.cs b/src/Dapr/Common/Extensions.cs
index 56ce959d4..54b38cb29 100644
--- a/src/Dapr/Common/Extensions.cs
+++ b/src/Dapr/Common/Extensions.cs
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 
 namespace MUnique.OpenMU.Dapr.Common;
 
-using System.Threading;
 using System.Text.Json.Serialization;
+using System.Threading;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Builder;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
@@ -295,6 +295,28 @@ await app.Services.GetService<IDatabaseConnectionSettingProvider>()!
             .ConfigureAwait(false);
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Waits for the database secrets to be loaded and then for the database to be up-to-date.
+    /// This is intended to be called from <see cref="Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting.IHostedLifecycleService.StartedAsync"/>
+    /// which is called after the web server has already started, breaking the circular dependency where:
+    /// the Dapr sidecar needs the app HTTP API to be up before it initializes its secret store,
+    /// but the app needs Dapr secrets to connect to the database.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="serviceProvider">The service provider.</param>
+    /// <param name="cancellationToken">The cancellation token.</param>
+    public static async Task WaitForDatabaseInitializationAsync(this IServiceProvider serviceProvider, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        var dbConnectionProvider = serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<IDatabaseConnectionSettingProvider>();
+        if (dbConnectionProvider.Initialization is { } initTask)
+        {
+            await initTask.WaitAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+
+        await serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<PersistenceContextProvider>()
+            .WaitForUpdatedDatabaseAsync(cancellationToken)
+            .ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Adds the ip resolver to the collection, depending on the command line arguments
     /// and the <see cref="SystemConfiguration"/> in the database.
diff --git a/src/Dapr/Common/ManagableServerStatePublisher.cs b/src/Dapr/Common/ManagableServerStatePublisher.cs
index 1b63850ae..c7094bb37 100644
--- a/src/Dapr/Common/ManagableServerStatePublisher.cs
+++ b/src/Dapr/Common/ManagableServerStatePublisher.cs
@@ -6,22 +6,24 @@ namespace MUnique.OpenMU.Dapr.Common;
 
 using System;
 using System.ComponentModel;
-using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 using global::Dapr.Client;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
-using Nito.AsyncEx;
-using Nito.AsyncEx.Synchronous;
 using MUnique.OpenMU.Interfaces;
 using MUnique.OpenMU.PlugIns;
+using Nito.AsyncEx;
+using Nito.AsyncEx.Synchronous;
 
 /// <summary>
 /// A state publisher for a <see cref="IManageableServer"/>,
 /// which can be handled with a corresponding <see cref="ManagableServerRegistry"/>.
+/// The server registration is deferred to <see cref="StartedAsync"/> which is called after the web application
+/// has started (i.e. the HTTP API is already available), breaking the circular startup dependency with the Dapr sidecar.
 /// </summary>
-public sealed class ManagableServerStatePublisher : IHostedService, IDisposable
+public sealed class ManagableServerStatePublisher : IHostedLifecycleService, IDisposable
 {
     /// <summary>
     /// The topic name for the state updates.
@@ -30,10 +32,11 @@ public sealed class ManagableServerStatePublisher : IHostedService, IDisposable
 
     private readonly ILogger<ManagableServerStatePublisher> _logger;
     private readonly DaprClient _daprClient;
-    private readonly IManageableServer _server;
+    private readonly IServiceProvider _serviceProvider;
     private readonly AsyncLock _lock = new();
 
-    private readonly ServerStateData _data;
+    private IManageableServer? _server;
+    private ServerStateData? _data;
 
     private Task? _heartbeatTask;
     private CancellationTokenSource? _heartbeatCancellationTokenSource;
@@ -42,15 +45,13 @@ public sealed class ManagableServerStatePublisher : IHostedService, IDisposable
     /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="ManagableServerStatePublisher"/> class.
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="daprClient">The dapr client.</param>
-    /// <param name="server">The server.</param>
+    /// <param name="serviceProvider">The service provider used to lazily resolve <see cref="IManageableServer"/>.</param>
     /// <param name="logger">The logger.</param>
-    public ManagableServerStatePublisher(DaprClient daprClient, IManageableServer server, ILogger<ManagableServerStatePublisher> logger)
+    public ManagableServerStatePublisher(DaprClient daprClient, IServiceProvider serviceProvider, ILogger<ManagableServerStatePublisher> logger)
     {
         this._daprClient = daprClient;
-        this._server = server;
+        this._serviceProvider = serviceProvider;
         this._logger = logger;
-        this._server.PropertyChanged += this.OnPropertyChanged;
-        this._data = new ServerStateData(this._server);
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
@@ -60,7 +61,13 @@ public void Dispose()
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    public Task StartingAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
+    /// <inheritdoc />
+    public Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
+    /// <inheritdoc />
+    public Task StartedAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
         this._heartbeatCancellationTokenSource = new CancellationTokenSource();
 
@@ -80,6 +87,9 @@ async Task RunHeartbeatTask()
         return Task.CompletedTask;
     }
 
+    /// <inheritdoc />
+    public Task StoppingAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
     /// <inheritdoc />
     public async Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
@@ -92,10 +102,12 @@ public async Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
         }
     }
 
+    /// <inheritdoc />
+    public Task StoppedAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
     private async Task HeartbeatLoopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
-        var stopWatch = new Stopwatch();
-        stopWatch.Start();
+        await this.InitializeServerAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
 
         while (!cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
         {
@@ -104,8 +116,33 @@ private async Task HeartbeatLoopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
         }
     }
 
+    private async Task InitializeServerAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        while (!cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested && this._server is null)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                var server = this._serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<IManageableServer>();
+                server.PropertyChanged -= this.OnPropertyChanged; // Ensure single subscription in case of retry
+                server.PropertyChanged += this.OnPropertyChanged;
+                this._data = new ServerStateData(server);
+                this._server = server;
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                this._logger.LogWarning(ex, "Could not resolve IManageableServer yet, retrying...");
+                await Task.Delay(1000, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     private async Task PublishCurrentStateAsync()
     {
+        if (this._server is null || this._data is null)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
         using var asyncLock = await this._lock.LockAsync(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1)).ConfigureAwait(false);
         if (asyncLock is null)
         {
diff --git a/src/Dapr/ConnectServer.Host/ConnectServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs b/src/Dapr/ConnectServer.Host/ConnectServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs
index 2e6b30c20..513d3cb24 100644
--- a/src/Dapr/ConnectServer.Host/ConnectServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs
+++ b/src/Dapr/ConnectServer.Host/ConnectServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs
@@ -5,36 +5,55 @@
 namespace MUnique.OpenMU.ConnectServer.Host;
 
 using System.Threading;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
+using MUnique.OpenMU.Dapr.Common;
 
 /// <summary>
-/// A wrapper which takes a <see cref="Interfaces.IConnectServer"/> and wraps it as <see cref="IHostedService"/>,
+/// A wrapper which takes a <see cref="Interfaces.IConnectServer"/> and wraps it as <see cref="IHostedLifecycleService"/>,
 /// so that additional initialization can be done before actually starting it.
+/// The actual server start is deferred to <see cref="StartedAsync"/> which is called after the web application
+/// has started (i.e. the HTTP API is already available), breaking the circular startup dependency with the Dapr sidecar.
 /// TODO: listen to configuration changes/database reinit.
 /// See also: ServerContainerBase.
 /// </summary>
-public class ConnectServerHostedServiceWrapper : IHostedService
+public class ConnectServerHostedServiceWrapper : IHostedLifecycleService
 {
-    private readonly ConnectServer _connectServer;
+    private readonly IServiceProvider _serviceProvider;
+    private ConnectServer? _connectServer;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="ConnectServerHostedServiceWrapper"/> class.
     /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="connectServer">The connect server.</param>
-    public ConnectServerHostedServiceWrapper(ConnectServer connectServer)
+    /// <param name="serviceProvider">The service provider.</param>
+    public ConnectServerHostedServiceWrapper(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)
     {
-        this._connectServer = connectServer;
+        this._serviceProvider = serviceProvider;
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc/>
-    public async Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    public Task StartingAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public async Task StartedAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
+        await this._serviceProvider.WaitForDatabaseInitializationAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        this._connectServer = this._serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<ConnectServer>();
         await this._connectServer.StartAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
     }
 
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task StoppingAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
     /// <inheritdoc/>
     public Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
-        return this._connectServer.StopAsync(cancellationToken);
+        return this._connectServer?.StopAsync(cancellationToken) ?? Task.CompletedTask;
     }
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task StoppedAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Dapr/ConnectServer.Host/Program.cs b/src/Dapr/ConnectServer.Host/Program.cs
index da7772d19..eb0a849df 100644
--- a/src/Dapr/ConnectServer.Host/Program.cs
+++ b/src/Dapr/ConnectServer.Host/Program.cs
@@ -26,6 +26,6 @@
 builder.AddOpenTelemetryMetrics(metricsRegistry);
 
 var app = builder.BuildAndConfigure();
-await app.WaitForUpdatedDatabaseAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+await app.WaitForDatabaseConnectionInitializationAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
 
 app.Run();
diff --git a/src/Dapr/FriendServer.Host/Program.cs b/src/Dapr/FriendServer.Host/Program.cs
index d62a9d7c3..3fa5d3fb8 100644
--- a/src/Dapr/FriendServer.Host/Program.cs
+++ b/src/Dapr/FriendServer.Host/Program.cs
@@ -25,6 +25,6 @@
 
 var app = builder.BuildAndConfigure();
 
-await app.WaitForUpdatedDatabaseAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+await app.WaitForDatabaseConnectionInitializationAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
 
 app.Run();
diff --git a/src/Dapr/GameServer.Host/GameServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs b/src/Dapr/GameServer.Host/GameServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs
index 71d02fc1f..6c5da8255 100644
--- a/src/Dapr/GameServer.Host/GameServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs
+++ b/src/Dapr/GameServer.Host/GameServerHostedServiceWrapper.cs
@@ -4,48 +4,77 @@
 
 namespace MUnique.OpenMU.GameServer.Host;
 
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Threading;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
+using MUnique.OpenMU.Dapr.Common;
 using MUnique.OpenMU.Interfaces;
+using MUnique.OpenMU.PlugIns;
+using MUnique.OpenMU.Web.Map;
 
 /// <summary>
-/// A wrapper which takes a <see cref="Interfaces.IGameServer"/> and wraps it as <see cref="IHostedService"/>,
+/// A wrapper which takes a <see cref="Interfaces.IGameServer"/> and wraps it as <see cref="IHostedLifecycleService"/>,
 /// so that additional initialization can be done before actually starting it.
+/// The actual server start is deferred to <see cref="StartedAsync"/> which is called after the web application
+/// has started (i.e. the HTTP API is already available), breaking the circular startup dependency with the Dapr sidecar.
 /// TODO: listen to configuration changes/database reinit.
 /// See also: ServerContainerBase.
 /// </summary>
-public class GameServerHostedServiceWrapper : IHostedService
+public class GameServerHostedServiceWrapper : IHostedLifecycleService
 {
-    private readonly IGameServer _gameServer;
-    private readonly GameServerInitializer _initializer;
-    private bool _isInitialized;
+    private readonly IServiceProvider _serviceProvider;
+    private IGameServer? _gameServer;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="GameServerHostedServiceWrapper"/> class.
     /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="gameServer">The game server.</param>
-    /// <param name="initializer">The initializer.</param>
-    public GameServerHostedServiceWrapper(IGameServer gameServer, GameServerInitializer initializer)
+    /// <param name="serviceProvider">The service provider.</param>
+    public GameServerHostedServiceWrapper(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)
     {
-        this._gameServer = gameServer;
-        this._initializer = initializer;
+        this._serviceProvider = serviceProvider;
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc/>
-    public async Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    public Task StartingAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public async Task StartedAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
-        if (!this._isInitialized)
+        await this._serviceProvider.WaitForDatabaseInitializationAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        if (this._serviceProvider.GetService<ICollection<PlugInConfiguration>>() is { } plugInCollection)
         {
-            await this._initializer.InitializeAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
-            this._isInitialized = true;
+            if (plugInCollection is not List<PlugInConfiguration> plugInConfigurations)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException($"The registered {nameof(ICollection<PlugInConfiguration>)} must be a {nameof(List<PlugInConfiguration>)} to be able to load plugin configurations.");
+            }
+
+            await this._serviceProvider.TryLoadPlugInConfigurationsAsync(plugInConfigurations).ConfigureAwait(false);
         }
 
+        this._gameServer = this._serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<IGameServer>();
+        var initializer = this._serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<GameServerInitializer>();
+        await initializer.InitializeAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        await ((ObservableGameServerAdapter)this._serviceProvider.GetRequiredService<IObservableGameServer>())
+            .InitializeAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+
         await this._gameServer.StartAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
     }
 
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task StoppingAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
+
     /// <inheritdoc/>
     public Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
-        return this._gameServer.StopAsync(cancellationToken);
+        return this._gameServer?.StopAsync(cancellationToken) ?? Task.CompletedTask;
     }
+
+    /// <inheritdoc/>
+    public Task StoppedAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Dapr/GameServer.Host/Program.cs b/src/Dapr/GameServer.Host/Program.cs
index 056e5f3bc..dd22a8bdb 100644
--- a/src/Dapr/GameServer.Host/Program.cs
+++ b/src/Dapr/GameServer.Host/Program.cs
@@ -58,8 +58,6 @@
 app.UseAntiforgery();
 app.MapRazorComponents<MUnique.OpenMU.GameServer.Host.App>()
     .AddInteractiveServerRenderMode();
-await app.WaitForUpdatedDatabaseAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+await app.WaitForDatabaseConnectionInitializationAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
 
-await app.Services.TryLoadPlugInConfigurationsAsync(plugInConfigurations).ConfigureAwait(false);
-await ((ObservableGameServerAdapter)app.Services.GetRequiredService<IObservableGameServer>()).InitializeAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
 app.Run();
diff --git a/src/Dapr/GuildServer.Host/Program.cs b/src/Dapr/GuildServer.Host/Program.cs
index abca760a3..768431bbb 100644
--- a/src/Dapr/GuildServer.Host/Program.cs
+++ b/src/Dapr/GuildServer.Host/Program.cs
@@ -22,6 +22,6 @@
 builder.AddOpenTelemetryMetrics(metricsRegistry);
 
 var app = builder.BuildAndConfigure();
-await app.WaitForUpdatedDatabaseAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+await app.WaitForDatabaseConnectionInitializationAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
 
 app.Run();