diff --git a/.listener.go.kate-swp b/.listener.go.kate-swp
deleted file mode 100644
index f82d04e..0000000
Binary files a/.listener.go.kate-swp and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/listener.go b/listener.go
index 7945bc4..70f6eb1 100644
--- a/listener.go
+++ b/listener.go
@@ -36,16 +36,6 @@ type Listener struct {
 	log       *log.Entry
 }
 
-// Check if IP address is all zero.
-func isZeroAddr(ip net.IP) bool {
-	for _, b := range ip {
-		if b != 0x0 {
-			return false
-		}
-	}
-	return true
-}
-
 // Make a new listener on the specified address. This
 // listener is added to the app listener list, and errors
 // on existing listeners for the specified address.
diff --git a/server_cmd.go b/server_cmd.go
index 7a2083e..8ff0ebe 100644
--- a/server_cmd.go
+++ b/server_cmd.go
@@ -47,12 +47,15 @@ func (a *ServerCmd) Run() error {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		// Apply the configuration read.
-		err = ApplyConfig(config)
-		// If error applying the config, we should fail.
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
+		// Apply the configuration in the background, to allow service start to notify
+		// the service managers fast.
+		go func() {
+			err = ApplyConfig(config)
+			// If error applying the config, log.
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Println("An error occurred applying configuration:", err)
+			}
+		}()
 	}
 
 	// Send notification that the service is ready.