diff --git a/apps/system/components/ProcessManager/kata-proc-manager/src/lib.rs b/apps/system/components/ProcessManager/kata-proc-manager/src/lib.rs
index 8776d79..f2643c0 100644
--- a/apps/system/components/ProcessManager/kata-proc-manager/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apps/system/components/ProcessManager/kata-proc-manager/src/lib.rs
@@ -141,12 +141,12 @@ impl ProcessManagerInterface for KataManagerInterface {
         let bundle_frames =
             kata_security_load_application(&bundle.app_id, &container_slot)?;
         let mut sel4_bundle = seL4BundleImpl::new(bundle, &bundle_frames)?;
-        sel4_bundle.start()?;
-
         // sel4_bundle owns container_slot now; release our ref so it's not
         // reclaimed when container_slot goes out of scope.
         container_slot.release();
 
+        sel4_bundle.start()?;
+
         Ok(Box::new(sel4_bundle) as _)
     }
     fn stop(&mut self, bundle_impl: &mut dyn BundleImplInterface) -> Result<(), ProcessManagerError> {