diff --git a/plugins/discovery/discovery.go b/plugins/discovery/discovery.go
index 0714869638..88eb8d427a 100644
--- a/plugins/discovery/discovery.go
+++ b/plugins/discovery/discovery.go
@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ func (c *Discovery) loadAndActivateBundleFromDisk(ctx context.Context) {
 			})
 
 			c.logger.Debug("Discovery bundle loaded from disk and activated successfully.")
+			return
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/plugins/discovery/discovery_test.go b/plugins/discovery/discovery_test.go
index 87df64d274..3f73c23434 100644
--- a/plugins/discovery/discovery_test.go
+++ b/plugins/discovery/discovery_test.go
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
-	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -1467,12 +1467,12 @@ func TestProcessBundleWithNoSigningConfig(t *testing.T) {
 
 type testServer struct {
 	t       *testing.T
-	mtx     sync.Mutex
 	server  *httptest.Server
-	updates []status.UpdateRequestV1
+	updates chan status.UpdateRequestV1
 }
 
 func (ts *testServer) Start() {
+	ts.updates = make(chan status.UpdateRequestV1, 100)
 	ts.server = httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(ts.handle))
 }
 
@@ -1480,12 +1480,6 @@ func (ts *testServer) Stop() {
 	ts.server.Close()
 }
 
-func (ts *testServer) Updates() []status.UpdateRequestV1 {
-	ts.mtx.Lock()
-	defer ts.mtx.Unlock()
-	return ts.updates
-}
-
 func (ts *testServer) handle(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 
 	var update status.UpdateRequestV1
@@ -1494,11 +1488,7 @@ func (ts *testServer) handle(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		ts.t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	func() {
-		ts.mtx.Lock()
-		defer ts.mtx.Unlock()
-		ts.updates = append(ts.updates, update)
-	}()
+	ts.updates <- update
 
 	w.WriteHeader(200)
 }
@@ -1557,24 +1547,175 @@ func TestStatusUpdates(t *testing.T) {
 	disco.oneShot(ctx, download.Update{ETag: "etag-2"})
 
 	// Check that all updates were received and active revisions are expected.
-	var ok bool
-	var updates []status.UpdateRequestV1
-	t0 := time.Now()
-
-	for !ok && time.Since(t0) < time.Second {
-		updates = ts.Updates()
-		ok = len(updates) == 7 &&
-			updates[0].Plugins["discovery"].State == plugins.StateNotReady && updates[0].Plugins["status"].State == plugins.StateOK &&
-			updates[1].Plugins["discovery"].State == plugins.StateOK && updates[1].Plugins["status"].State == plugins.StateOK &&
-			updates[2].Plugins["discovery"].State == plugins.StateOK && updates[2].Discovery.ActiveRevision == "test-revision-1" && updates[2].Discovery.Code == "" &&
-			updates[3].Plugins["discovery"].State == plugins.StateOK && updates[3].Discovery.ActiveRevision == "test-revision-1" && updates[3].Discovery.Code == "bundle_error" &&
-			updates[4].Plugins["discovery"].State == plugins.StateOK && updates[4].Discovery.ActiveRevision == "test-revision-2" && updates[4].Discovery.Code == "" &&
-			updates[5].Plugins["discovery"].State == plugins.StateOK && updates[5].Discovery.ActiveRevision == "test-revision-2" && updates[5].Discovery.Code == "bundle_error" &&
-			updates[6].Plugins["discovery"].State == plugins.StateOK && updates[6].Discovery.ActiveRevision == "test-revision-2" && updates[6].Discovery.Code == ""
+	expectedDiscoveryUpdates := []struct {
+		Code     string
+		Revision string
+	}{
+		{
+			Code:     "",
+			Revision: "test-revision-1",
+		},
+		{
+			Code:     "bundle_error",
+			Revision: "test-revision-1",
+		},
+		{
+			Code:     "",
+			Revision: "test-revision-2",
+		},
+		{
+			Code:     "bundle_error",
+			Revision: "test-revision-2",
+		},
+		{
+			Code:     "",
+			Revision: "test-revision-2",
+		},
 	}
 
-	if !ok {
-		t.Fatalf("Did not receive expected updates before timeout expired. Received: %+v", updates)
+	// nextExpectedDiscoveryUpdate, we look for each
+	nextExpectedDiscoveryUpdate := expectedDiscoveryUpdates[0]
+	expectedDiscoveryUpdates = expectedDiscoveryUpdates[1:]
+
+	timeout, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+	for {
+		select {
+		case update := <-ts.updates:
+			if update.Discovery != nil {
+				matches := false
+				if update.Discovery.Code == nextExpectedDiscoveryUpdate.Code &&
+					update.Discovery.ActiveRevision == nextExpectedDiscoveryUpdate.Revision {
+					matches = true
+				}
+
+				if matches {
+					if len(expectedDiscoveryUpdates) == 0 {
+						return
+					}
+					nextExpectedDiscoveryUpdate = expectedDiscoveryUpdates[0]
+					expectedDiscoveryUpdates = expectedDiscoveryUpdates[1:]
+				}
+			}
+		case <-timeout.Done():
+			cancel()
+			t.Fatalf("Waiting for following statuses timed out: %v", expectedDiscoveryUpdates)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStatusUpdatesFromPersistedBundlesDontDelayBoot(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+
+	// write the disco bundle to disk
+	discoBundle := bundleApi.Bundle{
+		Data: map[string]interface{}{
+			"discovery": map[string]interface{}{
+				"bundles": map[string]interface{}{
+					"main": map[string]interface{}{
+						"persist":  true,
+						"resource": "/bundle",
+						"service":  "localhost",
+					},
+				},
+				"status": map[string]interface{}{
+					"service": "localhost",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	discoBundleDir := filepath.Join(dir, "bundles", "config")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(discoBundleDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	discoBundleFile, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(discoBundleDir, "bundle.tar.gz"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+
+	}
+	defer discoBundleFile.Close()
+
+	err = bundleApi.NewWriter(discoBundleFile).Write(discoBundle)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// write an example data bundle ('main') to disk
+	mainBundle := bundleApi.Bundle{
+		Data: map[string]interface{}{
+			"foo": "bar",
+		},
+	}
+
+	mainBundleDir := filepath.Join(dir, "bundles", "main")
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(mainBundleDir, 0755); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	mainBundleFile, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(mainBundleDir, "bundle.tar.gz"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+
+	}
+	defer mainBundleFile.Close()
+
+	err = bundleApi.NewWriter(mainBundleFile).Write(mainBundle)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Create a timing out listener for the referenced localhost service
+	// :0 will cause net to find an available port
+	listener, err := net.Listen("tcp", "127.0.0.1:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer listener.Close()
+
+	manager, err := plugins.New([]byte(fmt.Sprintf(`{
+            "persistence_directory": %q, 
+			"services": {
+				"localhost": {
+					"url": "http://%s"
+				}
+			},
+			"discovery": {"name": "config", "persist": true, "decision": "discovery"},
+		}`, dir, listener.Addr().String())), "test-id", inmem.New())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// allow 2s of time to start before failing
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 2*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	// start Discovery instance, wait for it to complete Start()
+	booted := make(chan bool)
+	go func() {
+		disco, err := New(manager)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Log(err)
+			return
+		}
+		err = disco.Start(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Log(err)
+			return
+		}
+		booted <- true
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case <-booted:
+		for k, pi := range manager.PluginStatus() {
+			if pi.State != plugins.StateOK {
+				t.Errorf("Expected %s plugin to be in OK state but got %v", k, pi.State)
+			}
+		}
+	case <-ctx.Done():
+		t.Errorf("Timed out waiting for disco to start")
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/plugins/plugins.go b/plugins/plugins.go
index ef4d31ceeb..830da78bdc 100644
--- a/plugins/plugins.go
+++ b/plugins/plugins.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/trace"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
+
 	"github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/ast"
 	"github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/bundle"
 	"github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/config"
diff --git a/plugins/status/plugin.go b/plugins/status/plugin.go
index de6919fb4b..295e1d8cc6 100644
--- a/plugins/status/plugin.go
+++ b/plugins/status/plugin.go
@@ -12,9 +12,10 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"reflect"
 
-	lstat "github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/plugins/logs/status"
 	prom "github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 
+	lstat "github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/plugins/logs/status"
+
 	"github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/logging"
 	"github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/metrics"
 	"github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/plugins"
@@ -204,7 +205,9 @@ func New(parsedConfig *Config, manager *plugins.Manager) *Plugin {
 		decisionLogsCh: make(chan lstat.Status),
 		stop:           make(chan chan struct{}),
 		reconfig:       make(chan reconfigure),
-		pluginStatusCh: make(chan map[string]*plugins.Status),
+		// we use a buffered channel here to avoid blocking other plugins
+		// when updating statuses
+		pluginStatusCh: make(chan map[string]*plugins.Status, 1),
 		queryCh:        make(chan chan *UpdateRequestV1),
 		logger:         manager.Logger().WithFields(map[string]interface{}{"plugin": Name}),
 		trigger:        make(chan trigger),
@@ -236,7 +239,7 @@ func Lookup(manager *plugins.Manager) *Plugin {
 func (p *Plugin) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 	p.logger.Info("Starting status reporter.")
 
-	go p.loop()
+	go p.loop(ctx)
 
 	// Setup a listener for plugin statuses, but only after starting the loop
 	// to prevent blocking threads pushing the plugin updates.
@@ -344,9 +347,9 @@ func (p *Plugin) Trigger(ctx context.Context) error {
 	}
 }
 
-func (p *Plugin) loop() {
+func (p *Plugin) loop(ctx context.Context) {
 
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 
 	for {
 
diff --git a/plugins/status/plugin_test.go b/plugins/status/plugin_test.go
index 5de7bb9ff6..dafee8749d 100644
--- a/plugins/status/plugin_test.go
+++ b/plugins/status/plugin_test.go
@@ -349,12 +349,9 @@ func TestPluginStartTriggerManual(t *testing.T) {
 			"app":     "example-app",
 			"version": version.Version,
 		},
-		Plugins: map[string]*plugins.Status{
-			"status": {State: plugins.StateOK},
-		},
 	}
 
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(result, exp) {
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(result.Labels, exp.Labels) {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected: %v but got: %v", exp, result)
 	}
 
@@ -371,7 +368,7 @@ func TestPluginStartTriggerManual(t *testing.T) {
 
 	exp.Bundles = map[string]*bundle.Status{"test": status}
 
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(result, exp) {
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(result.Bundles, exp.Bundles) {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected: %v but got: %v", exp, result)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/server/server_test.go b/server/server_test.go
index c2a4675ee9..385b1c4736 100644
--- a/server/server_test.go
+++ b/server/server_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
+
 	"github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/internal/prometheus"
 
 	"github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/ast"
@@ -3169,26 +3170,34 @@ func TestStatusV1(t *testing.T) {
 
 	f.server.manager.Register(pluginStatus.Name, bs)
 
-	req = newReqV1(http.MethodGet, "/status", "")
-	f.reset()
-	f.server.Handler.ServeHTTP(f.recorder, req)
-	if f.recorder.Result().StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
-		t.Fatal("expected ok")
-	}
+	// Fetch the status info, wait for status plugin to be ok
+	t0 := time.Now()
+	ok := false
+	for !ok && time.Since(t0) < time.Second {
+		req = newReqV1(http.MethodGet, "/status", "")
+		f.reset()
+		f.server.Handler.ServeHTTP(f.recorder, req)
+		if f.recorder.Result().StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+			t.Fatal("expected ok")
+		}
 
-	var resp1 struct {
-		Result struct {
-			Plugins struct {
-				Status struct {
-					State string
+		var resp1 struct {
+			Result struct {
+				Plugins struct {
+					Status struct {
+						State string
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
-	}
-	if err := util.NewJSONDecoder(f.recorder.Body).Decode(&resp1); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	} else if resp1.Result.Plugins.Status.State != "OK" {
-		t.Fatal("expected plugin state for status to be 'OK' but got:", resp1)
+		if err := util.NewJSONDecoder(f.recorder.Body).Decode(&resp1); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if resp1.Result.Plugins.Status.State == "OK" {
+			ok = true
+		} else {
+			t.Log("expected plugin state for status to be 'OK' but got:", resp1)
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Expect HTTP 200 and updated status after bundle update occurs
@@ -3281,27 +3290,34 @@ func TestStatusV1MetricsWithSystemAuthzPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	f.server.manager.Register(pluginStatus.Name, bs)
 
-	// Fetch the status info
-	req = newReqV1(http.MethodGet, "/status", "")
-	f.reset()
-	f.server.Handler.ServeHTTP(f.recorder, req)
-	if f.recorder.Result().StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
-		t.Fatal("expected ok")
-	}
+	// Fetch the status info, wait for status plugin to be ok
+	t0 := time.Now()
+	ok := false
+	for !ok && time.Since(t0) < time.Second {
+		req = newReqV1(http.MethodGet, "/status", "")
+		f.reset()
+		f.server.Handler.ServeHTTP(f.recorder, req)
+		if f.recorder.Result().StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
+			t.Fatal("expected ok")
+		}
 
-	var resp1 struct {
-		Result struct {
-			Plugins struct {
-				Status struct {
-					State string
+		var resp1 struct {
+			Result struct {
+				Plugins struct {
+					Status struct {
+						State string
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
-	}
-	if err := util.NewJSONDecoder(f.recorder.Body).Decode(&resp1); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	} else if resp1.Result.Plugins.Status.State != "OK" {
-		t.Fatal("expected plugin state for status to be 'OK' but got:", resp1)
+		if err := util.NewJSONDecoder(f.recorder.Body).Decode(&resp1); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if resp1.Result.Plugins.Status.State == "OK" {
+			ok = true
+		} else {
+			t.Log("expected plugin state for status to be 'OK' but got:", resp1)
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Make requests that should get denied